MORGANTOWN — A West Virginia University student was killed in a shooting at College Park, an apartment complex for WVU students, early on Friday morning.
Terrell Tyrese Linear, 21, and Shaundarius Tavon Reeder, 20, both of Fairmont, are each charged with first-degree murder.
They are accused of shooting and killing Eric James Smith, 21, of Clementon, N.J., a sophomore majoring in multidisciplinary studies. Neither suspect attends WVU, according to the university.
Police responded to College Park’s building 21 at 3:52 a.m. for a shots fired call, according to a criminal complaint.
When officers arrived, Smith was found lying in the apartment building’s hallway, unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds, the complaint said. A medical examiner determined Smith was dead.
Smith, and several other people arrived at College Park in a dark Toyota Camry, the complaint said. Smith, Reeder and Linear then got into a fight in the parking lot. Smith went inside building 21 and was followed by Linear and Reeder, who then left the building without Smith.
Reeder and Linear got into the Camry and left. They asked the driver to take them to Fairmont, but the driver was uncomfortable doing that and called a friend at College Park, who handed the phone to law enforcement, the complaint said.
It was determined Linear and Reeder were at Walmart in University Town Centre and the Granville Police Department went there and detained the two men as they left the store, the complaint said. Reeder was in possession of a pink 9mm Luger pistol.
In an interview, Linear told police after the fight he went to the Toyota and got two guns that were his. He gave one — the pink Luger Linear bought for his fianceé — to Reeder. Surveillance cameras in the apartment complex show the two men entering the building, leaving, then entering again, the complaint said.
The first time Linear entered the building he had a scissor jack and Reeder is seen with the butt of the pink gun sticking out of the waistband of his pants, the complaint said. The two re-entered the building about a minute-and-a-half later and Linear is seen with a gun in his right hand.
They were both seen running from the building about a minute later.
Linear said he entered the building, pounded on multiple apartment doors so people could witness him shooting and killing the victim, then shot Smith multiple times when he opened the door, the complaint said.
Both suspects were arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court Friday afternoon. Magistrate Tim Pocius was unable to set bond because first-degree murder carries a penalty of life in prison and bail must be set by a circuit court judge.
Both men said they were unemployed and single and requested a court-appointed attorney. They also each requested to have a preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for March 9.
Friday afternoon WVU employees and other people were clearing out Smith’s apartment in College Park. They did not wish to speak with The Dominion Post.
During a WVU Board of Governors meeting on Friday, WVU President E. Gordon Gee told the BOG the shooting was targeted, but the exact reason for it was unknown.
