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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — An accidental shooting at Bradley University early in the morning led to the arrest of a man and the hospitalization of an 18-year-old woman.
Edward A. Traywick Jr., a 19-year-old from Lansing with no ties to the university, found himself in custody facing multiple charges. According to school spokesperson Libby Derry, Traywick was charged with unauthorized use of a weapon, possessing a firearm under the age of 21, reckless discharge of a weapon, and lacking a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card.
The incident took place at 2:14 a.m. on October 19 when police from Bradley University and Peoria responded to reports of a shooting on the third floor of Geisert Hall, as noted in a Community Advisory Alert issued by the institution.
Upon their approach, officers intercepted a vehicle carrying four individuals. Inside, they discovered a woman who had suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She was promptly transported to the hospital, as detailed in the alert.
The injured woman was also confirmed not to be a student at Bradley University. Fortunately, she was reported to be in stable condition.
The other two passengers in the vehicle were questioned by police but were subsequently released, according to the release.
“Bradley University Police and our campus safety partners remain committed to maintaining a secure environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. We understand that incidents like this can cause concern, but we want to assure the campus community that this was an isolated event and there is no ongoing threat,” the release said.
Bradley University President James Shadid also released a statement saying how he was “deeply concerned” about the events that transpired.
I am deeply concerned about the incident that occurred early this morning in Geisert Hall. While this was determined to be an accidental shooting and while neither the shooter nor the victim are Bradley students, I recognize that any event involving a firearm on our campus can understandably cause fear and concern. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priorities.
Guns are not permitted on Bradley University’s campus, and we take any violation of this policy with the utmost seriousness. The individual responsible is in custody, and the appropriate legal and university consequences will follow. There is no ongoing threat to our campus community.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Bradley University Police Department, the Peoria Police Department, and the Illinois State Police for their swift and professional response. Their immediate coordination ensured that the situation was contained quickly and that our community remained safe.
Bradley University is a community built on care, respect, and accountability. We will continue to uphold these values as we work to ensure a safe environment for all.
Bradley University President James Shadid
As of late Sunday morning, he remained in the Peoria County Jail, according to jail records.