Two Grambling State University students were arrested Thursday after police investigated a report of gunfire on campus following a fight involving several parties.
GSU police officers responded to the Adams Hall parking lot late Thursday regarding gunshots. Two spent .40 shell casings were found in the parking lot and a witness identified Maleak Palmer, 21, of Baker, La., as the shooter.
Palmer was arrested and a housing staff member was asked to lock his dorm room to prevent anyone from entering. However, the staffer did not possess a key. A black backpack was seen lying on Palmer’s bed. A roommate, Patrick Wayne Marshall, 20, of Shreveport, followed officers out to the parking lot expressing displeasure at the arrest. Once Palmer was secured in a police vehicle, an officer returned to the room to find Marshall had returned and locked himself in the room. When the officer was able to obtain a key and enter, the backpack was gone.
The backpack was found under another bed in the room and police determined only Marshall could have hidden it. Marshall was arrested for interfering with an investigation and obstruction of justice.
During questioning, Palmer revealed he was a party to the fight at McCall Dining Hall. The shots were reportedly fired after that fight. Palmer told investigators the handgun in his room was given to him by his brother for protection while at GSU. He admitted he knew firearms were illegal on campus.
Palmer was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for disturbing the peace in connection with the initial fight and aggravated assault by firearm and possession of a firearm in a firearm-free school zone for the later shooting.
Bail amounts for Palmer and Marshall were not available at press time.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
