Tragic Shooting of Oklahoma University Alpha Phi Alpha Student

OU student shot, killed near OSU By John Estus

STILLWATER - Authorities arrested a man from The Village on a murder complaint Sunday after a shooting at an off-campus fraternity party killed one man and injured three others early Sunday.
Oklahoma City police arrested Karras Mitchell Harrison, who lives at 2721 Carlton Way in The Village, Sunday evening. He was held at the Oklahoma City Police Department until Payne County authorities could retrieve him.
He was taken to the Payne County jail, where authorities expected he would be held at least until Tuesday, when an arraignment is planned.
Three other people believed to have been with Harrison are being sought for questioning, Stillwater police Sgt. Jeff Watts said.
Paul Shanor, 20, of Carrollton, Texas, died at Stillwater Medical Center on Sunday afternoon from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Shanor was a member of the University of Oklahoma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
"The university family feels a tremendous sense of loss," OU President David Boren said in a statement. "Paul was a highly respected student. It is heartbreaking to see his life cut short in such a tragic way."
Oklahoma State University officials also expressed remorse.
"It is deeply saddening and troubling when a gathering of students and their friends turns violent because of the actions of a few," OSU President David Schmidly said in a statement.
Metcalf said Harrison could face at least one charge of second-degree murder and three charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
Metcalf said officers were called to Holiday Inn, 2515 W Sixth, at 3:11 a.m. Sunday and found four gunshot wound victims in the hotel's Iba Suite. Metcalf said about 40 to 60 people attended the party, sponsored by Oklahoma State University's chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.
The gathering was described as an after-party for the fraternity's dance at the OSU student union Saturday night.
Metcalf said investigators believe the shots were fired after some uninvited guests tried to enter the party and were denied entrance by Alpha Phi Alpha members.
Multiple shots were fired from a .45-caliber weapon into the hotel room, striking four people.
Legaria Thomas, 19, an OSU student, was at an Oklahoma City hospital Sunday after having been shot in the face.
Curtis Canaday, 22, a Langston University student, was shot in the hand and was treated at Stillwater Medical Center before being released.
An unnamed third victim was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Stillwater Medical Center Sunday night.
Cory Cox, president of Alpha Phi Alpha at OSU, would not comment.
On Nov. 18, 2004, OSU administrators banned Alpha Phi Alpha and seven other African-American fraternities and sororities from having dances in the student union after Stillwater police found a gun on a man who was involved in one of many fights at an Alpha Phi Alpha dance in the student union Oct. 2, 2004. The man was not a student.
At least one other event has been held in the student union since the ban was lifted last fall.
Contributing: Augie Frost

To my frat brother who has now entered Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., '06!