1 student dead, 1 injured in shooting at Southern Arkansas University

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) - One student died and another was injured in an early-morning shooting Tuesday at Southern Arkansas University, according to a post on the university's Facebook page.

University police reported that around 12:56 a.m., three students living off-campus went to campus and met someone in the parking lot of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus Community Center. After a brief discussion, numerous shots were fired.

The student who was killed has been identified Joshua Keshun Smith, a senior engineering physics major from Sparkman, Arkansas. The injured student was taken to a nearby hospital and is said to be stable. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

The university said all necessary steps were taken to secure the campus. School officials said all classes and late registration will continue to take place as scheduled on Tuesday.

One of Smith's professor's tells KATV about his impact in the classroom. They said Smith was a very nice guy and a great student.

Tuesday marked the first day of class and the beginning of new school year at Southern Arkansas University, but for Dr. Mohammed Islam he said he's still shock from the loss of Joshua Smith. He said Smith was one of his student's from the previous semester and his advisor. Dr. Islam said he struggled to read through the email sent by the university president about his death.

“I could not believe it myself when I came to the campus, I heard from one of my colleague that, Josh that is your student who got killed,” said Dr. Islam.

Dr. Islam said this was Smith’s last semester before he was scheduled to graduate with his bachelor’s degree. He said because of his death, it will be difficult to push forward this school year.

“As faculty, the advisor and myself, all of us try to keep the stress level low, but sometimes there’s some personal issues that we cannot control,” said Dr. Islam.

Dr. Islam said Smith was a quiet student with a bright future and said Smith was always looking to improve his grades. He said one of his last words to Smith during last semester, was to focus on his studies and he will do very well.

“I feel very sorry for him, for his family that are near and dear to him,” said Dr. Islam.

Dr. Islam said if Smith graduated this semester, he said Smith's career choice was to go into industrial technology.

Police have not released any suspect information.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.