A Virginia State University police officer was shot early Sunday, sending him to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, triggering a campus lockdown at the Ettrick facility and launching a manhunt for the gunman who as of the evening remained at large.
The wounded police officer was identified as Bruce Foster, 39, a five-year veteran of the VSU force. Officials said they believe Foster, who was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, is the first VSU officer shot in the line of duty.
Foster, a Richmond resident, was taken to VCU Medical Center. During a 1:30 p.m. Sunday press briefing, it was announced that his condition had improved and he was upgraded to stable condition.
“We’re very, very excited that he is now in stable condition,” Gwen Williams Dandridge, the school’s assistant vice president for communications, told reporters. “Obviously, this is a tragedy for our campus but we are exceedingly grateful that he is doing as well as he is.”
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VSU Chief of Police David Bragg described Foster as a “really nice guy” with an outstanding record.
The campus was locked down immediately after the shooting. It was lifted at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and authorities did not believe there was an imminent danger to the school even as the manhunt for the shooter continued. Campus activities for the rest of the weekend resumed.
Devyn Nobles, a VSU junior, called the incident “obviously very, very tragic.”
“I actually interact with all the officers on a weekly, monthly basis. So hearing that an officer was shot was very disappointing,” said Nobles, who is the vice president of the student government.
“Students were very nervous, scared when things…
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