Worcester State University canceled classes on Monday as authorities continued to search for an 18-year-old suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of another young man during a fight on campus early Saturday morning.
The university called off day and evening classes for Monday, a banner on its website said. Members of the school community were advised to monitor their emails for further updates and information.
Kevin Rodriguez, most recently a resident of Lawrence, is wanted on multiple charges connected to the Saturday shooting. He is considered armed and dangerous, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Sunday.
Investigators believe a fight on campus around 2:30 a.m. Saturday ended in gunshots, Early said. The altercation did not appear to be random, but rather between parties who already knew each other.
Officials have not yet released the names of a 19-year-old man killed in the shooting nor a 21-year-old man injured by gunfire but expected to survive. But Early said this weekend that neither the victims nor their suspected assailants were students of the university.
Kevin Rodriguez, 18, is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old man at Worcester State University on Saturday, Oct. 28. (Photo courtesy of the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office).Worcester County District Attorney’s Office
The Chandler Street campus on the west side of Worcester was under a shelter-in-place order for hours Saturday morning following the shooting. Early and campus police officials stressed during a press conference Saturday that the campus was safe and they believed there was no further threat to the university.
Rodriguez is wanted on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder, Early’s office said.
Anyone who sees Rodriguez is asked to call 911. Those who know anything about his location should call Massachusetts State Police detectives at 508-453-7589 or the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Apprehension Section at 1-800-527-8873, officials said.
Authorities also asked anyone with information or images of the shooting to contact the campus police at 508-929-8911 or the state police at 508-829-8326.
Early’s office asked specifically for information, photos or videos from anyone in the area of Wasylean Hall and Sheehan Hall at the time of the shooting. The two buildings are student dormitories near the university library.
“If you have videos, if you saw anything, if you heard anything, please contact us,” Worcester State University Police Chief Jason Kapurch said Saturday. “We’re leaving no stone unturned.”
