By Ashton Leber
Staff Writer
At least 11 people were injured on the morning of Monday, Nov. 28, at Ohio State University (OSU) after a student ran over pedestrians with a car and then stabbed passersby with a butcher knife, according to The New York Times. A campus police officer then shot and killed the man suspected of committing the violent acts, OSU Public Safety Director Monica Moll said at a press conference on Monday
Campus police officer Alan Horujko responded to the call less than a minute after the dispatch at 9:52 a.m. and shot the suspect seconds after he exited his vehicle, according to Moll.
“We believe the threat was ended when the officer engaged the suspect,” Moll said. “We’re very fortunate that an OSU (police department) officer was there and took action and we believe that injuries were minimized as a result of that.”
Abdul Razak Ali Artan, 18, was a logistics management major of Somali descent at the university. According to The New York Times, he graduated cum laude with an associate of arts degree and was on the Columbus State Community College’s Dean’s List before transferring to OSU.
The victims’ identities have not yet been released, but they remain in the hospital with injuries while one is in critical condition, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Thomas said at the press conference.
OSU Police Chief Craig Stone said the incident is still an ongoing investigation, but was definitely not an accident.
“To go over the curb and strike pedestrians and then get out and start striking with the knife — that was on purpose,” Stone stated during the press conference.
Student Jacob Bower told CNN he saw the attacker on campus by Watts Hall where the incident took place.
“He pulled a large knife and started chasing people around, trying to attack them,” Bower said.
According to CNN, the university sent an emergency alert out to students at 9:56 a.m.: “Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on Campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College.”
Students ran for shelter at numerous locations throughout the campus. Student Cydney Ireland spoke about the incident to WBNS-TV from a restroom.
“I’m a little shaken up at first,” Ireland told WBNS. “I do feel safe based off the room I’m in.”
Fox News reported the alert was lifted at approximately 11:30 a.m.
According to the same news outlet, authorities said the FBI is currently investigating whether or not the attack was related to terrorism and are searching for others who may have been linked to the incident.
The university is one of the largest in the nation with approximately 60,000 students currently enrolled at the main campus in Columbus, Ohio, according to CBS.
OSU President Michael Drake announced at the press conference that he plans to visit those who were injured in the attack.
“I want to give our thoughts and prayers and hopes and wishes for speedy recovery to all those who were injured,” Drake said.
