The violence that broke out Wednesday in a Sacramento State dorm was shocking and horrific. It is also, at this point, inexplicable, adding to the anguish of a campus trying to comprehend it.
According to police, a 19-year-old student beat another student to death with a bat before he was shot and wounded by police.
The suspect, Quran Jones, 19, grew up as a foster child in San Francisco. He played on the Sacred Heart Cathedral football team and told friends he had hopes of becoming a firefighter.
Why would a promising teen go into such a rage? What set him off? Were there any previous signs of trouble that should have led authorities to intervene?
These are all questions that students and faculty at California State University, Sacramento, are pondering now. Mostly, though, they are mourning the death of Scott Hawkins, a 23-year-old history major killed in the attack.
Understandably, a violent death of this nature has made some wonder about safety at CSUS and at college residence halls in general. Some parents might be tempted to think their children would be safer living off campus.
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