Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Student Arrested After Shot Fired in McDonough

*Updated at 9:23 p.m. on Oct. 20.*

First-year student Alex Thiele was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department after a shot was fired in a McDonough Gymnasium bathroom during Friday’s Midnight Madness.

According to an MPD incident report, Park Police officer Sherice Clanton set down her purse, which contained her issued weapon, a black .40-caliber handgun, in McDonough Gymnasium. Clanton later noticed that the gun was missing from her purse and notified MPD personnel.

“After further investigation by MPD it was found that [Thiele] had discharged the weapon inside the bathroom in the gym and fled the location,” the report said. The toilet bowl damaged by the gunshot was valued by MPD at $250.

Clanton was identified on a U.S. Park Police blog in June as a U.S. Park Police officer.

The MPD report said the incident began at 10:21 p.m. and ended at 10:25 p.m.

Officers located Thiele and the weapon in Village C West, where they took him into custody. No shots were fired in Village C, Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson said.

Thiele was identified on an MPD daily arrest report, available via the MPD Second District Yahoo group.

Simon Chivi (NHS ’12), who was the student guard in Village C West starting at 8 p.m. Friday, said a male student was led outside from the third floor of the building’s X Wing in handcuffs by DPS officers at about 11 p.m.

Chivi said about six DPS officers and about five MPD officers entered the building before apprehending Thiele.

At midnight, four MPD crime scene technicians entered Village C West and carried equipment to the third floor of the X Wing.

Thiele will face charges of criminal possession of a weapon without license, theft and destruction of property, according to the MPD report.

Those who attended Midnight Madness, an annual event marking the beginning of the basketball season’s official practices, were barred from leaving McDonough Gymnasium immediately after the conclusion of festivities just before 11 p.m. The attendees, who Olson said were cooperative with DPS, began leaving at about 11:05 p.m.

Olson and Vice President for University Safety Rocco DelMonaco sent an e-mail to the university community at about 2:40 a.m. Saturday notifying campus of the arrest.

DelMonaco also spoke at parents’ weekend activities Saturday to discuss safety and emergency preparedness efforts, university spokesperson Julie Bataille said.

“I have not personally gotten calls about [the incident] but it would only be natural for questions to arise,” Bataille said on Saturday.

DPS and personnel at the MPD Second District office declined to comment for this report.

*Hoya Staff Writers Kevin Barber and Jenny Rogers contributed to this report.*”

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