ODU Emails
Norfolk Police are investigating a shooting that occurred around 5 a.m. June 10 in the 800 block of 42nd Street, between Killam and Colley Avenues. Norfolk Police have not released any details at this point. The campus will be updated as soon as more information is learned.
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Norfolk Police have identified the victim of this morning's shooting as 20-year-old Christopher Cummings. Christopher was a junior Old Dominion University student from Northern Virginia who was studying criminal justice.
The police have not released the name of a second victim who was taken to the hospital. No additional details about the incident were given.
As the university learns more, we will update the campus community.
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Dear Campus Community,
While we do not yet know all the details of yesterday morning's off-campus shooting, we do know the Old Dominion University community lost a bright and talented student and another student is recovering in the hospital.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Christopher S. Cummings, a junior criminal justice major from Northern Virginia. By all accounts, Christopher was a friendly and popular student and a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Words cannot express our grief at the senseless loss of such a bright, young man.
Members of the university community have been in touch with the Cummings family and the university wishes to continue to provide support for Christopher's friends, classmates and faculty. The Counseling Center staff is available to assist any student, faculty or staff members who are having difficulty. Please take a moment to reach out to your friends, classmates and colleagues and show concern during this time.
ODU Police and other university officials are working with Norfolk Police to assist in their investigation in this off-campus crime. While I understand the university community's anger over this terrible act and frustration at the few details released, please understand that police investigations take time. We have and will continue to update the campus with information as soon as we receive it from police. Additionally, if anyone has any information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, please call police immediately. That piece of information could help identify the individual or individuals responsible for this crime.
As you know, the university has been working with a national security consultant and we are putting into place her recommendations. We have hired additional officers, enhanced the lighting in the garages, and installed more "blue light" emergency phones. Work is underway on significantly increased use of video surveillance and a campus-wide review of lighting. We will also continue to urge city officials and landlords on additional safety measures for the off-campus neighborhood where this and other crimes occurred this semester.
In the coming days, I will continue to update the campus on university and police efforts. In the meantime, I ask that each of us offers solace and support to other members of our ODU community as we struggle to comprehend this senseless act.
Sincerely,
John R. Broderick
President
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Dear Campus Community:
The brothers of the Theta Chi Fraternity will hold a candlelight vigil
tonight in remembrance of ODU student Christopher Cummings. The
vigil will be held at 9 p.m. on Kaufman Mall.
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