Assistant vice chancellor for public safety reassures students after West 7th shootings

By Katharine Vaughn

Published Oct 18, 2021

The stop sign at Norwood and Morton streets, close to where the recent shootings occurred near West 7th. (Photo courtesy of Katherine Vaughn)

After two shootings in the popular West 7th entertainment district last month, TCU Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety Adrian Andrews reassured students that keeping them safe is their priority.

On Sept. 12, Fort Worth police arrested a man near West 7th Street after a fight broke out between two men, resulting in a shooting. Police responded at around 3 a.m. One of the males involved shot the other in the lower hip, police reported.

Then, on Sept. 26, shortly after 2 a.m., another shooting took place, leaving three injured. The incident took place in a neighborhood on Norwood Street and Morton Street, close by the popular Bodega West 7th, after bars had closed that night.

“If it were a serious problem, and if it were happening every weekend or way too often, I would say no, you shouldn’t go there because it’s dangerous,” said Andrews. “We have not had situations like that in the few years that I’ve been here, so I would say that it’s still a safe place to go, but just take all the safety precautions that you can.”

The majority of the crimes within a half-mile radius of the West Seventh shootings between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3 were property crimes. (Photo courtesy of crimemapping.com)

A review of crime statistics between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3 for the area found that property crimes were the most frequent offenses reported.

TCU Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Mike Russel strongly encourages students to seek assistance from the offices of the Counseling and Mental Health Center, Religious & Spiritual Life and the Dean of Students Office.

“I think it’s scary that crime is that close to where TCU students are,” said first-year student Claire Frances. “I had friends that were there the night of the shooting, and it definitely scared them a little bit about going back to the West 7th area.”

Later that same day, Russel addressed the shooting in an email sent to students. He urged students who may have witnessed the shooting and are experiencing trauma to use TCU’s resources as they cope with the aftermath.

Andrews said that students’ safety is the primary concern of the TCU Police.

“We care about you folks — wherever you are, whatever you do. We have to keep you safe, and that’s our only job, and we do it very passionately,” said Andrews.