Wednesday, August 30, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 7
For comments, contact Lori O'Toole at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
Murder-suicide still a mystery
The Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Police said Tuesday they are still uncertain who shot whom in an apparent murder-suicide at the University of Arkansas Monday involving an English professor and a graduate student who was recently dropped from a doctoral program. Both died in the shooting.
English professor John Locke, 67, and James Easton Kelly, 36, were found dead Monday in Locke's office. People nearby said they heard the men arguing before three shots were fired.
University police Capt. Brad Bruns said a 38-caliber revolver, which belonged to Kelly, was found between the men.
"We don't want to say it was one way and it turn out to be a different way. With the location of the gun and the two bodies, it was not obvious at the scene," said university police Lt. Gary Crain.
Bruns said four empty shell casings were found in the gun, which Kelly bought at a pawn shop five years ago.
Kelly was dismissed from the doctoral program Aug. 21 because he habitually enrolled in and then dropped classes. The university said a committee of six professors voted to drop Kelly from the program. Locke was on the committee but abstained from the vote.
The committee allowed Kelly to continue his studies as a non-degree student.
Kelly had scheduled a meeting with Locke, his adviser, who was reluctant to meet the student in private.
Bruns said police had a brief conversation with one of the men before the final shot was fired. The man told him he was injured and that he did not want them to enter the office, Bruns said.
Bruns said a police negotiator never got a chance to talk with anyone in the second-floor office.
"I heard one gunshot followed by a man's voice saying, 'No, I didn't do anything,'" said Bethany Edstrom, a graduate student who was in a nearby office. "Then I heard a second shot."
Student Drew Terry said he was sitting with friends outside Kimpel Hall, a classroom and office building near the heart of the 15,000-student campus, when people fled from the building around noon.
"People were scattering everywhere. The whole area was full of people running around out here," he said.
Chancellor John White said Locke enrolled as a doctoral student in the university's English program in 1990 and later switched to comparative literature.
"All of us at the university are all deeply upset," White said.
Locke was interested in oriental mythology and religions and studied Zen Buddhism, said James Whitehead, professor emeritus of creative writing. Whitehead and others said Locke's death was unfathomable.
"It's as if he was walking to school on a cloudless day and got struck by lightning." Whitehead said.
In a statement, President Clinton said the situation struck a particularly sad cord for first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and him, who both taught law at the university in the mid-1970s.
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass.832-8228
IMPRESS YOUR PARENTS BECOME A LAWRENCE BUSINESS OWNER!
FOR A ONE-TIME FEE OF $75.00 YOU CAN JOIN THE CO-OP
WHY?
1. 10% discount on Members Days Sept 9, Oct 9, Nov 9, Dec 9,2000
4. Discounts on cooking classes
2. Free classifieds in the Merc News
3. Discounted display ads in the Merc News
5. Opportunity to run for our Board of Directors
MOST IMPORTANTLY
6. Support for one of Lawrence's thriving, locally-owned businesses
COMMUNITY MERCANTILE 901 Mississippi Lawrence, KS (785) 843-8544 Open 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. everyday
Solid Hardwood FUTONS $199
Bunk
Futon
& Frame
$239
816-421-5577
2001 Ave Grand
Kansas City MO
(20th & Grand
913-642-8500
8871 W. 95th St.
Overland Park
(95th & Antioch)
913-451-2552
7579 W. 119th St,
119th & Metcalf
(North of Super Target)
20th. & Grand • 816-421-5577
EVERYDAY LOW PRICES · OPEN 24 HOURS EVERYDAY +
VER INVOICE COST?
SHASTA POP 24 Pk. 12 Oz.CANS
Over Invoice Cost1
Guer Invoice Cost
EA.
WESTERN EASTERN CRINKLE FRIES
67¢
CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRIES
DOLE COLE SLAW OR
SALAD MIX
BONELESS BEEF BRISKET
BOSTON BUTT
PORK
ROAST
ROAST
FRYER LEG QUARTERS
FROZEN DINNERS
CELLULAR PHONES & CELLULAR ONE CARDS NOW AVAILABLE!
No. PHONE CARDS 2.9€ PER MINUTE. See Video Department for Details.
Swiss Courts 298
Checkers
LOW FOOD PRICES
23RD & LOUISIANA, LAWRENCE
AUGUST 2000
SUN MON TUE WED TH FRI SAT
SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR SSR
30 31 1 2 1
3 4 5