VSU President Responds To Shooting Of VSU Police Officer Bruce Foster

Good Evening, VSU Trojan Family.

We first want to update you on the latest information regarding the shooting of one of our Trojan Family members. Officer Bruce Foster is listed in stable condition at a local hospital following an on-campus shooting early Sunday morning.

We continue to pray fervently for Officer Foster and his entire family, including his wife, four children, and parents.

I want to thank our Police Chief David Bragg, our entire VSU Police Department, and all law enforcement officers for their due diligence as we work collaboratively to investigate the shooting of Officer Foster. We will utilize every available resource to and those responsible for this cowardly and senseless act and bring them to justice.

We recognize that this has been a trying weekend and semester for our Trojans. We want you to know that we understand and support you. We have made counselors available this evening for any student who needs their help. Counselors are available throughout the day tomorrow to assist. Students who meet with our counselors will receive an excused absence for missed classes.

We will also meet with our Student Government Association tomorrow afternoon in Foster Hall. We invite anyone on campus who wants to be a part of this conversation to attend.

Trojans, we are doing everything we can to keep our campus safe. We need your help. Help us to ensure that we are not inviting anyone into our "home" who may mean us harm. If you see something, say something.

Meanwhile, officers from all of the area jurisdictions will assist us in around-the-clock surveillance on our campus for the remainder of the semester.

We continue to encourage you and ask that you continue to support and encourage each other and show compassion as we remain united and Trojan Strong.

Sincerely,

Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.

President