2/15/96
CONTACT: Stanford University News Service (650) 723-2558
STANFORD -- Stanford police Thursday, Feb. 15, filed criminal charges against a
19-year-old man who admitted firing the gunshot that injured him and another man during a weekend sorority dance at Stanford University.
Stanford Police Chief Marvin Herrington said Concepcion Scott, a De Anza College student from San Jose, admitted to the shooting during questioning earlier in the week. He told police the gun discharged accidentally just after 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.
The bullet struck Scott in the hand, and another, unidentified, 19-year-old man in the leg. Both were treated for their injuries at Stanford University Hospital and released early Sunday morning. Scott is due to be operated on for his injuries this weekend, and will be placed under arrest after he is released from the hospital, Herrington said.
Stanford police investigators retrieved the weapon during a search of Scott's residence. He has been charged with being in the possession of a firearm on university grounds, and receiving stolen property (the gun).
The dance, a fund-raiser sponsored by the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, attracted about 400 people to Tresidder Memorial Union. Students from Stanford and several other Bay Area colleges and universities attended.
It is a violation of Stanford policy - and California law - to be in possession of a firearm on campus without written permission from the Department of Public Safety.
A university investigation into the incident is under way, and may result in changes to university policies governing events sponsored by student organizations.
The sorority has issued the following statement on the incident:
"We, the members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Omicron Chi Chapter, are writing in response to the events that occurred at Tresidder Union at Stanford University on the night of Feb. 10. We are a public service organization dedicated to sisterhood, scholarship, and service within Stanford and the surrounding communities. Every quarter for the past 13 years, we have dedicated a week or weekend to public service and community programming, and participate in longterm community service projects on a weekly basis.
"Our party on Saturday night, as with all our parties, was held to raise money for our annual scholarship fund for area high school students. We began to plan for this party last autumn quarter, and worked hard to follow standard party planning practices. In preparation for this event we contracted with a professional security company, which was on site to monitor the party.
"When the incident occurred on Saturday night, we immediately called the police, and two representatives from the sorority remained in constant contact with the police and university officials until the end of the evening. We also conducted interviews to see if anyone had information about the incident, and continue to do so, in order to formulate a preventative plan for future events sponsored by other organizations within the Stanford community.
"Our concerns at this point are that this isolated incident will affect the entire
African-American community, since events such as this one are a major source of funding for the public service programs that Black Volunteer Student Organizations sponsor. We regret that this incident occurred, and would like to extend our apologies to those involved. In the future we hope to work with the university and other organizations to ensure that an accident such as this one never happens again."
-pr-
960216gunman.html
Download this release and its related files.
The release is provided in Adobe Acrobat format. Any images shown in the release are provided at publishing quality. Additional images also may be provided. Complete credit and caption information is included.
960216gunman.sit