W & J Student Murdered Last Night

[Mr. Colby]

Oh. Yeah. I see that now.

Yeah, Hammer's got it.

[Mr. Colby]

I guess what I'm comparing it to is my experience at Penn State where you walk across the street and you're at a bar, 2-3 more blocks you're on frat row. The frats on campus have parties. But they are all regulated very heavily by the IFC due to what happened in 2009 with Joe Dado's death. However Joe was an underage freshman. It would seem this individual at W&J is over 21.

I don't want to seem insensitive because this really is a tragic death, but why do people get this notion that heads must roll at the college? At what point do we blame the kid for walking around by himself off campus in the middle of the night?

[Stoosh]

I guess this is indicative of how things can change in a relatively short time.

When I was there, almost all of the social life was concentrated within the fraternities, and this is when almost all of the fraternities were housed in the quads down just down from Rossin. Most of the students never left campus to go to the bars in town and if we did, it was pretty much Freestyle's and that was it.

I graduated in 1998, but hung around quite a bit for the next couple of years as I still had friends there. It was around that time that they really started to crack down on open containers in the quads, etc. I got screamed at by a security guard during the Saturday morning of Homecoming in like 2001 or 2002 for walking outside the old Delt house with a beer in my hand (I was a brother at DTD, incidentally).

I have no idea what it's like now. Has much of the social life moved off campus?

[mac5155]

I guess what I'm comparing it to is my experience at Penn State where you walk across the street and you're at a bar, 2-3 more blocks you're on frat row. The frats on campus have parties. But they are all regulated very heavily by the IFC due to what happened in 2009 with Joe Dado's death. However Joe was an underage freshman. It would seem this individual at W&J is over 21.

I don't want to seem insensitive because this really is a tragic death, but why do people get this notion that heads must roll at the college? At what point do we blame the kid for walking around by himself off campus in the middle of the night?

I'm with you. When I went out, I made sure I was with a group of friends. My friends were responsible enough. This can happen anywhere. Sure, it's more likely to happen in worse areas, but I can't really fault a security guard for not offering an escort for this kid. There were programs in place at PSU that you could press an emergency call box button and a police officer would be there within minutes. I know it's not an ideal situation, but perhaps W&J could look into something similar if they are having a bad time patrolling the area.

[mac5155]

I guess this is indicative of how things can change in a relatively short time.

When I was there, almost all of the social life was concentrated within the fraternities, and this is when almost all of the fraternities were housed in the quads down just down from Rossin. Most of the students never left campus to go to the bars in town and if we did, it was pretty much Freestyle's and that was it.

I graduated in 1998, but hung around quite a bit for the next couple of years as I still had friends there. It was around that time that they really started to crack down on open containers in the quads, etc. I got screamed at by a security guard during the Saturday morning of Homecoming in like 2001 or 2002 for walking outside the old Delt house with a beer in my hand (I was a brother at DTD, incidentally).

I have no idea what it's like now. Has much of the social life moved off campus?

What is your degree in if you don't mind sharing? My uncle went there as well, and I believe graduated in 98ish. It might have been 97, though. I believe he was in business, specifically accounting, because he went on to work for Deloitte and is now a CPA.

[TheHammer24]

I guess what I'm comparing it to is my experience at Penn State where you walk across the street and you're at a bar, 2-3 more blocks you're on frat row. The frats on campus have parties. But they are all regulated very heavily by the IFC due to what happened in 2009 with Joe Dado's death. However Joe was an underage freshman. It would seem this individual at W&J is over 21.

I don't want to seem insensitive because this really is a tragic death, but why do people get this notion that heads must roll at the college? At what point do we blame the kid for walking around by himself off campus in the middle of the night?

This is a trend. When something goes wrong, we have to be reactionary and find someone at fault. Often, no one is at fault other than the culprit.

[Godric]

This is a trend. When something goes wrong, we have to be reactionary and find someone at fault. Often, no one is at fault other than the culprit.

What? Do you mean to say "Perceived victim" instead of culprit?

[TheHammer24]

This is a trend. When something goes wrong, we have to be reactionary and find someone at fault. Often, no one is at fault other than the culprit.

What? Do you mean to say "Perceived victim" instead of culprit?

No. I mean culprit. Sometimes bad people do bad things to good people. There was 0.01% Chance the victim would be jumped walking home alone and an even slimmer chance he'd suffer serious injuries if he did. Sure, he should have walked home with someone else, but we need to recognize that we're all susceptible to dangers no matter what precautions we take.

[Shyster]

Brutal? really...? I guess I'm not aware of the situation as much as you are.. but come on. You simply cannot allow alcohol on a college campus. It sends the wrong message completely.

What message? People drink? Plenty of college students are over 21.

[Godric]

This is a trend. When something goes wrong, we have to be reactionary and find someone at fault. Often, no one is at fault other than the culprit.

What? Do you mean to say "Perceived victim" instead of culprit?

No. I mean culprit. Sometimes bad people do bad things to good people. There was 0.01% Chance the victim would be jumped walking home alone and an even slimmer chance he'd suffer serious injuries if he did. Sure, he should have walked home with someone else, but we need to recognize that we're all susceptible to dangers no matter what precautions we take.

Oh good, this is what I hoped u meant

[SirMario66]

I guess what I'm comparing it to is my experience at Penn State where you walk across the street and you're at a bar, 2-3 more blocks you're on frat row. The frats on campus have parties. But they are all regulated very heavily by the IFC due to what happened in 2009 with Joe Dado's death. However Joe was an underage freshman. It would seem this individual at W&J is over 21.

I don't want to seem insensitive because this really is a tragic death, but why do people get this notion that heads must roll at the college? At what point do we blame the kid for walking around by himself off campus in the middle of the night?

Not sure what the real facts, but just relaying what I've been hearing around campus: there were two students walking back from the brewhouse and a group of 6 townies told them to give them their phones and wallets. The two students refused and that's when they got attacked. One student got away and ran to get security. When they got back, the other kid was already dead. Scary that he wasn't even alone.

Really just terrible situation. Not sure what can be done.

[Shyster]

A question for those who are more familiar with W&J: Are the “townies” in question predominantly (or entirely) of a particular racial or ethnic group? If so, which one?

[Mr. Colby]

Yep, just bad people doing bad things to good people

[Mr. Colby]

A question for those who are more familiar with W&J: Are the “townies” in question predominantly (or entirely) of a particular racial or ethnic group? If so, which one?

There are both black and white townies, however I have generally seen more problems with the black townies and usually inside or outside of the VIP bar on main street.

VIP is a big wednesday night hangout for WJ students, when I was there it was dollar drinks 9-11. On Fridays, they open up the upstairs club which is predominantly filled with black patrons, and everyone is wanded upon entry.

[Mr. Colby]

This is a trend. When something goes wrong, we have to be reactionary and find someone at fault. Often, no one is at fault other than the culprit.

What? Do you mean to say "Perceived victim" instead of culprit?

No. I mean culprit. Sometimes bad people do bad things to good people. There was 0.01% Chance the victim would be jumped walking home alone and an even slimmer chance he'd suffer serious injuries if he did. Sure, he should have walked home with someone else, but we need to recognize that we're all susceptible to dangers no matter what precautions we take.

Yeah I want to clarify - you need to have people with you when you're walking but that doesn't make it "your fault" if you get killed. It just means you needed to be more careful.

However apparently this kid had a buddy with him so the poor kid did everything right and now he's dead

[TheHammer24]

A question for those who are more familiar with W&J: Are the “townies” in question predominantly (or entirely) of a particular racial or ethnic group? If so, which one?

There are both black and white townies, however I have generally seen more problems with the black townies and usually inside or outside of the VIP bar on main street.

VIP is a big wednesday night hangout for WJ students, when I was there it was dollar drinks 9-11. On Fridays, they open up the upstairs club which is predominantly filled with black patrons, and everyone is wanded upon entry.

To give you an idea of VIP it's where Wiz Khakifa played before anyone knew who Wiz Khalifa was. Mix the crowd in his music video with a bunch of privileged suburbanites.

Unreal, though that he was with his buddy and the perpetrators jumped him until he was dead. Little doubt they'll arrest all involved.

[Shyster]

Thanks. Given that the media rarely reports black-on-white crime as being black-on-white crime, I was wondering if there might be such an element to this story. It seems like the answer is “possibly, but not necessarily.”

[Mr. Colby]

Not a chance. Black-on-white crime doesn't create enough of an uprising so why would they report black-on-white crime as such

[Stoosh]

I guess this is indicative of how things can change in a relatively short time.

When I was there, almost all of the social life was concentrated within the fraternities, and this is when almost all of the fraternities were housed in the quads down just down from Rossin. Most of the students never left campus to go to the bars in town and if we did, it was pretty much Freestyle's and that was it.

I graduated in 1998, but hung around quite a bit for the next couple of years as I still had friends there. It was around that time that they really started to crack down on open containers in the quads, etc. I got screamed at by a security guard during the Saturday morning of Homecoming in like 2001 or 2002 for walking outside the old Delt house with a beer in my hand (I was a brother at DTD, incidentally).

I have no idea what it's like now. Has much of the social life moved off campus?

What is your degree in if you don't mind sharing? My uncle went there as well, and I believe graduated in 98ish. It might have been 97, though. I believe he was in business, specifically accounting, because he went on to work for Deloitte and is now a CPA.

Bachelors in psychology.

[ILikeTurtles]

My girlfriend and some other friends knew him, what a shame that a young life is taken senselessly.

[ExPatriatePen]

Lived about 1/4 mile from that area from 1982-1989. Even back then it wasn't a place I'd want to walk at 2am.

I personally got jumped INSIDE Hungry Jose's in Late April / Early May 1989.

I've always had a fond spot for Wash Pa. This is just sad.

[TheHammer24]

I'm not going to blame the companion and I am not sure it would have made a difference, but I find it a bit bizarre that the friend went home (about a 12 minute walk from the spot) then came back, then went home, then came back again, then called the police.

McNerney was walking back to campus with Zach DeCicco from Main Street Brew House on South Main Street when they were approached near the rear of Lombardi’s Auto Service by as many as six males wanting to steal a cellphone, Stanek said.

“No types of weapons as far as we know were flashed,” he said. DeCicco suffered a possible broken nose and some other injuries, Stanek said.

DeCicco, 22, a senior from Jefferson Hills, managed to escape to his dormitory. DeCicco, a defensive back on the team, did not call Washington County 911, but chose to wait and report the robbery to campus security.

“He’s shook up. They were both attacked. When he got a chance to flee, he fled,” Stanek said.

DeCicco and his friends then went looking for McNerney, checking the lot in front of Lombardi’s at 99 E. Maiden St. without finding any signs of him, police said.

McNerney was later located in that parking lot by friends after it was checked a second time, Stanek said. They immediately called 911 upon finding McNerney, he said.

[MRandall25]

I've watched too much CSI, because I just became suspicious of the "buddy".

[Mr. Colby]

No reason to be suspicious of the buddy. He made a questionable decision in the heat of the moment - should have probably dialed 911 as opposed to campus security.

I do find it weird that they didn't find him the 1st time around considering the area was described as "well-lit".

Either way, the poor kid's life is never going to be the same. He's always going to be asking "what if" and i feel terrible for him because of that.

[TheHammer24]

No reason to be suspicious of the buddy. He made a questionable decision in the heat of the moment - should have probably dialed 911 as opposed to campus security.

I do find it weird that they didn't find him the 1st time around considering the area was described as "well-lit".

Either way, the poor kid's life is never going to be the same. He's always going to be asking "what if" and i feel terrible for him because of that.

Yeah. Bizarre for sure.