Empty gun cartridge found in USF parking lot: ‘It’s scary’
Just four days after University Police found an empty gun case and ammunition magazines in the Fine Arts Building, officers located an empty 9 mm gun cartridge in a parking lot next to the building.
The police department assured students there is still no active threat to campus.
UP used a canine unit to search for additional items or evidence related to the investigation, but nothing else was found in Parking Lot 9. The police found the cartridge after they were alerted by students.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, USF has not directly notified students about the issue, but UP posted the press release on its website.
Related: Empty gun case, empty ammo magazines found at USF Fine Arts Building
The presence of gun supplies on campus has prompted some students to express their concerns for safety on campus.
Abby Lopez, a junior in criminology, said she heard about the incident in the Fine Arts Building from a classmate an hour before a mass email was sent to students at USF on Monday.
“I’m concerned, not just for myself, but for my friends too,” Lopez said. “It’s scary.”
The empty gun case and ammunition magazines were found on Saturday.
A UP spokesperson did not explain why students did not receive an alert about either situation at the time of publication.
Lopez said situations like these should be better communicated to students, especially to those with “fewer connections” around campus.
Kareem Tamimi, a junior in biomedical engineering, also found out about the investigation over the weekend, before Dean of Students Danielle McDonald sent an email to the USF community.
On Monday, McDonald told students in an email about the discoveries made over the weekend and said the situation would continue to be monitored for student safety.
Tamimi, however, said he is “concerned” about the situation.
Related: USF increases police presence after FSU shooting
“It’s hard to expect what’s to come,” Tamimi said. “Everything feels normal, but now, [more] things have been found.”
Tamimi said this has made him feel “less comfortable” on campus.
“It’s not a coincidence that we find two things on campus,” Tamimi said. “Don’t wait for a third one.”
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