UPDATE (11/15/2023): According to reports, officers do not have a motive for the reason that the fatal stabbing took place at Louisiana Tech University on November 13, 2023. Approximately four female subjects were injured during the stabbing, and one of the victims was pronounced deceased on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at a hospital in Shreveport, La.
The suspect, 23-year-old Jacoby Johnson, was initially charged with four counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder; however, one of his charges has been upgraded to Second-Degree Murder due to the death of Annie Richardson, a local artist.
According to the Ruston Daily Leader, investigators determined Johnson was inside the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center prior to the attacks and brandished a knife at a student playing basketball. Once Johnson exited the building, retired Third District Judge Cynthia Woodard and Richardson were leaving a senior exercise class. Johnson then allegedly attacked Woodard and Richardson from behind as they walked the sidewalk.
As of November 14, 2023, Woodard remains in critical but stable condition. Another victim, Louisiana Tech University student Dominique McKane was reportedly getting ready to teach a subsequent senior exercise class when she was attacked in the parking lot, according to reports.
During the attack, Debby Hollimon, a retired teacher, was cut on the face as she attempted to assist McKane. Authorities said that the stabbing was a random act of violence and that Johnson was not on anyone’s radar for problematic behavior.
According to reports, police searched Johnson’s off-campus apartment and were unable to find any clues about the attack. Reports confirmed that Third Judicial District Attorney John Belton is seeking a grand jury indictment against Johnson.
UPDATE (11/14/2023): On November 14, 2023, reports confirmed that one of the victims in the stabbing that took place on the campus of Louisiana Tech University has died. The victim, Annie Richardson, was pronounced deceased at a hospital in Shreveport, La.
According to the Ruston Daily Leader, two other victims are still recovering in a Shreveport hospital. Jacoby Johnson of Rayville, La. has now been charged with Second-Degree Murder in addition to three counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder.
UPDATE (5:00 PM): On Monday, November 13, Louisiana Tech officials responded to the incident around 9:10 a.m., confirming that four people were stabbed outside the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center on the Louisiana Tech University campus.
Louisiana Tech student Dillon said he heard screaming as he was getting ready for class.
“I was literally right there. That is my bathroom window. I heard screaming, and it was loud, but I didn’t think anything of it because it was the Lambright. You see kids going in and out every day, so I didn’t think anything of it until I heard the sirens.”
According to officials, the attack happened outside of the building as the victims were leaving. The suspect then fled South towards the main campus. There, he was arrested and taken into custody. The suspect has been identified as a Louisiana Tech student, Jacoby Johnson. He was taken to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center for injuries received during the initial incident.
“It’s crazy. It’s definitely out of the ordinary. Something like this never happens. I’ve been here for two years, and it just doesn’t happen, especially at Lambright. You have college students, high school kids, elementary school kids, all types of people here, and it doesn’t happen,” Dillon explained.
Two of the victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other victim was airlifted to Shreveport, and one victim refused to get treatment. Deputies say one of the victims is in critical condition. Dillon says while he is still in shock to learn about the news, he feels safe on campus.
“I feel safe enough knowing that I’ve been here, as long as I’ve been, it’s probably not going to happen again. This is just, I hope, a one-eye thing.”
The suspect has been charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder.
The ages of the victims involved range from 23 years old, 62, 65, and 72 years old. A student-led vigil will be held at The Quad on Tuesday, November 14th at 6 p.m.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
UPDATE (4:15 PM): According to officials, Jacoby Johnson is being charged with four counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder after a stabbing took place on the campus of Louisiana Tech University. The charges were announced during a press conference held by Ruston Mayor, Ronny Walker.
Authorities also mentioned that the injuries were in the neck and back areas. Officials confirmed that the victims were ages 62, 65, 72, and 23.
During the press conference, officials announced that a student-led vigil will take place at the university on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 6 PM.
UPDATE (12:58 PM): On November 13, 2023, shortly after 9 AM, the Louisiana Tech University Police Department responded to a stabbing at the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center on campus. According to Louisiana Tech University, officers received a phone call at approximately 9:08 AM and had the suspect in custody at approximately 9:12 AM.
The attack happened outside of the building as the victims were leaving. The suspect then allegedly fled south toward the main campus and was apprehended by campus police without incident.
Officials believe that the incident was a random act of violence. The suspect was identified as Jacoby Johnson, who is a student at the university. Johnson is being treated at Northern Louisiana Medical Center for injuries received during the initial incident.
According to reports, four individuals were victims in the incident and two of the victims were airlifted to Shreveport, La. for treatment. One victim refused treatment.
As of 11:40 AM, one victim is in critical condition at NLMC, and the two other victims are in serious but stable condition. The victim airlifted is a graduate student and the other three victims are non-students.
The investigation is ongoing. Be sure to visit myarklamiss.com for more updates on this incident.
UPDATE: Although some reports have announced that there was a fatality as a result of the stabbing, no victims have been pronounced deceased as of 11:21 AM, according to the Ruston Daily Leader.
According to reports, the suspect was taken into custody at the Kidd Student Housing Complex and the suspect was not believed to be a resident. Ruston High School was placed on a “soft lockdown” for a brief period after the incident.
RUSTON, La. (KTVE/KARD) — On November 13, 2023, the Louisiana Tech University Police Department responded to a stabbing at the university’s Lambright Sports & Wellness Center. According to the Ruston Daily Leader, a suspect is in custody and multiple people were victims of the stabbing.
Reports have confirmed that two victims have been airlifted to hospitals in Shreveport, La.
We will keep you up to date with the latest details.
