An armed Weber State University student died and three other people were wounded Thursday morning in a shootout during an administrative hearing on campus.
Authorities said Mark Duong, 28, Ogden, was shot to death by a WSU police officer after he drew a semiautomatic weapon and began firing at participants at the hearing.The officer, Kent T. Kiernan, 40, was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. Also hit were WSU legal counsel Richard Hill, 48, and student Tuan Nguyen, 30.
St. Benedict's Hospital spokeswoman Stephanie Serumgard said all three men were in stable condition but were scheduled to undergo surgery later Thursday.
Duong, who was identified as a WSU student, died at 10:30 a.m. of multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen, legs and arm, said McKay-Dee Hospital spokeswoman Mona DeGiorgio.
The shooting occurred at about 9:40 a.m. in a second-floor hearing room in the Shepherd Union Building. Details were sketchy, but WSU spokesman Craig Nelson said the hearing involved a harassment complaint that was filed against Duong by other students. Nelson said Duong was accused of physically and verbally harassing Nguyen's wife.
A panel of about 12 faculty and student members were hearing the case, with Lee Peters, dean of student life, presiding.
Toward the end of the hearing, Duong suddenly stood up, drew a semiautomatic pistol and began firing, said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Gary Whitney. Kiernan returned the fire, fatally wounding the gunman.
Authorities said they were not sure of a motive nor could they say who Duong's intended victims were. It was also unclear whether the three injured men were wounded during the initial shooting or in the exchange of gunfire, though one witness told reporters that Nguyen was the first person shot.
WSU police don't normally attend hearings, but Nelson said Kiernan was assigned the duty because of the contentious nature of the case. "It was felt it was appropriate that he be there," Nelson said.
Officers from the Weber County sheriff's office, campus police and Utah Highway Patrol responded to the incident. The scene was sealed off for several hours as investigators questioned witnesses and tried to sort out what happened.
With WSU in the middle of its summer session, the union building was crowded with students, staff and faculty.