- The Washington Times - Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Police on Tuesday were still seeking the gunman who shot a student at Widener University, a school located just outside Philadelphia, but administrators in the meantime called for classes to resume and campus activities to return to normal.

The shooting took place shortly before 9 p.m. on Monday in the parking lot of the university’s athletic center and does not appear to a random incident, police said, The Associated Press reported. The victim called 911 to report the shooting and was taken to the local Crozer-Chester Medical Center and stabilized, AP said. The victim — a student — was not identified.

“All indications are this was not a random act of violence,” said Dan Hanson, a university spokesman, declining to release additional details, AP reported.

Students were told to stay indoors throughout the evening to allow police unfettered access to find the suspect. On Tuesday, university officials said the campus was secured and that classes would resume — though the suspect is still on the loose. Police are everywhere on campus.

“Any shooting provokes fear, but the security here is top-notch,” said Chester Police Chief Joseph Bail, to the local WPVI-TV. “We have a strong police presence. They [students] just need to be careful.

Police believe the gunman fled into a nearby neighborhood.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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