<p>Morgantown, W.Va. (February 23rd, 2006) A WVU student is arrested and charged with the murder of Ryan Johnston. 21 year old Tyler Baumann from Alexandria, Virginia was arrested this afternoon while in class on the WVU downtown campus in Clark Hall while he was in class. Baumann was a senior studying Advertising and Political Science. Police say witness statements led them to Baumann as the suspect. The two men allegedly did not know each other, Baumann was a guest at a party at the Beechurst Avenue apartment. He is being held at the North Central Regional Jail without bond. Johnston was found stabbed on a Beechurst Avenue porch almost two weeks ago. Morgantown Police say a fight broke out between Johnston and his friends and the people on the porch early that Sunday morning. Police say the investigation into the stabbing continues. </p>
<p>WVU officials offer condolences in wake of student tragedy
CONTACT: News & Information Services 304-293-6997 "One of the most difficult moments in the life of a University community is the loss of one of its students, said WVU President David C. Hardesty, Jr. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Johnston family and to Ryan's friends and classmates. We will continue to offer assistance and support in the investigation of this tragedy." </p>
<p>Background: The Morgantown Police Department released information Sunday afternoon (Feb. 12) that confirmed a stabbing at a Beechurst Avenue residence early that morning. The victim, who died as a result of a stab wound to the chest, is Ryan Robert Johnston, 21, of Washington , Pa. Anyone with information is asked to contact MPD at 304-284-7522. </p>
<p>Update: Visitation for Johnston will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 15-16, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, 336 Wilson Ave., Washington, Pa. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the Immaculate Conception Church, 119 West Chestnut St., Washington, Pa. Memorial contributions can be made to the Washington Federal Bank, Scholarship Fund at McGuffy High School, in memory of Johnston.</p>
<p>We live in a violent country. I'm not sure why the article was posted except to underline the fact that the US is indeed a violent society, and even college students may be murdered by their peers.</p>
<p>When I taught college, a student was murdered on campus by another student. One of my student's found the murder victim bleeding to death. Apparently, it was a case of unrequited "love" (if one can call an obsession that leads to murder "love.")</p>
<p>Even Harvard a few years ago had a murder on campus in which a female student murdered her roommate. </p>
<p>What all this means to me is that our country needs to put as much effort into promoting peace and nonviolence as it puts into war preparations. </p>
<p>If one is educated or professional or a college student, one still isn't safe in our society. Among people whom I have known who were murdered were a fellow grad student who was driving a taxi to pay his school bills (and who had a wife with brain cancer), a female psychology professor who was carjacked, and a lawyer who was killed in his office when he attempted to peacefully intervene when a disgruntled person started arguing with the office staff.</p>
<p>I knew a teen who lived in inner city Detroit who said that 12 members of her high school class (which originally had 450 students freshmen year) were murdered. I didn't believe her until I checked the newspaper and found the obits.</p>
<p>I don't mean to trivialize it, but if we posted info on every serious college campus crime we would have to create a new forum. Here is one I read about on a college visit that I hadn't previously heard about.</p>
<p>By: Mary Scott
Issue date: 2/14/06 Section: News</p>
<p>A Howard County Circuit Court jury convicted a Columbia, Md., woman on Friday of involuntary manslaughter in the strangulation death of a fellow Loyola College clinical psychology doctoral student.</p>
<p>After deliberating for more than 14 hours, the jury acquitted 26 year-old Melissa Burch Harton of the most serious first degree murder charges in favor of involuntary manslaughter after Harton admitted to strangling Natalie Bacchus, 31, and dumping her body in an Ellicott City parking lot last March.</p>
