Wesleyan student shot, killed

Middletown (WTNH) - A Wesleyan University student was shot and killed inside the university bookstore Wednesday afternoon. Police are still searching for the gunman, but a weapon has been recovered.

The image is chilling. Surveillance tape exposes a white man, with black hair, glasses, a beard and mustache, walking through the "Broad Street Books" store, gun in his right hand.

Police have identified the man as 29-year-old Stephen Morgan, who is still armed and on the loose. Middletown police say Morgan shot and killed 22-year-old Wesleyan Junior Johanna Justin-Jinich who is from an area near Fort Collins, Colorado.

Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giluiano said the city is shaken and grieving.

"Certainly not a robbery, nothing was taken. Multiple gun shots into the victim, this is somebody who was fixated on the victim," say Mayor Giluiano. "Went right to them, didn't harm anyone else."

In front of several witnesses, Jinich was shot at the "Red and Black Café" inside the store around 1:00 Wednesday afternoon. A SWAT team arrived immediately; the suspect left behind evidence that was quickly located by detectives.

"We did recover some evidence at the scene; some type of disguise was used, we have secured that information," said Lt. Margaret Liseo of the Middletown Police Department. "We did recover a weapon, just assuming that was the weapon that was used."

Police say how the pair is connected is unknown. Wednesday night, a warning was issued for all Wesleyan students.

"We would recommend that Middletown residents, and specifically Wesleyan students, be extra vigilant tonight. The suspect does remain at large, and should be considered armed and dangerous at this time," said Lt. Liseo.

Middletown police are leading this on-going investigation with the help of State Police Major Crimes Squad. And as police search for Morgan, many here are still trying to absorb a tragic day.

"My heart, and I'm sure the heart of all Middletown residents, go out to her family and to the Wesleyan community as a whole," said Mayor Guiliano. "It just goes to show something can happen anywhere."