Altercation leads to shooting of student

By Gus Bode

An SIUC student was shot in his left forearm during an altercation on the 400 block of South Marion Street Friday evening.

Carbondale Police said Cory L. Robinson, an 18-year-old resident of Wright Hall from Chicago Heights, was transported to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was treated and released for a single gunshot wound. Robinson was the only person injured in the incident.

Sgt. Dan Stearns said the shooting occurred at about 6:30 p.m. after a yelling match involving two small groups of men in the street. Stearns said Robinson was in one of the quarreling factions.

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There were a couple groups, two opposing teams probably, Stearns said. They had apparently been involved in some verbal altercation in which an individual, who has not yet been located, pulled out a handgun and started shooting.

Stearns said there is no evidence whether or not Robinson knew the shooter.

One of the witnesses interviewed by police said five to seven shots were fired.

A discarded handgun was found in the area of the incident. Although the weapon police discovered has not been positively linked to the shooting, Stearns would not release the exact make of the weapon for fear of hindering the continuing investigation.

Stearns said the shooter was not alone, but he is the only man police are actively seeking at this time.

The shooter was with a group of individuals that scattered before we got there, he said. Just one suspect is being sought out, though.

While the reason for the altercation has not yet been ascertained, Stearns said there is no indication of gang involvement. Stearns could not say with certainty whether drugs were involved.

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Stearns said witnesses on the scene provided helpful leads which police are investigating.

We’ve still got leads that we are following up on, he said. I think we’ll eventually solve this one.

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