LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A manhunt for a man suspected of killing his wife put the Georgia Gwinnett College campus on lockdown Monday.
11Alive reports, “[Police] responded to a 911 call at the Greens at Hillcrest apartment complex on Windy Hill Pointe near campus. Inside one of the apartments, they found 47-year-old Vanessa Soyer shot to death. Her husband, Sheldon Soyer, is the suspected shooter. He remains on the loose.”
The college sent out an alert saying: Earlier this morning, GGC Campus Police responded to a report of a fatal shooting that occurred near the campus. The alleged shooter’s description and last known direction of travel indicated a risk to this campus. Accordingly, the campus alert system was activated and the campus was placed in a lockdown posture. I was exceptionally pleased with the professionalism and patience of the entire GGC community while the situation became an extended one. Multiple law enforcement agencies, as of 2 p.m., continued an extensive search of the area for the “person of interest” related to the shooting.
Throughout the day, the administration coordinated with local authorities, GGC Campus Police and other leaders across our campus. GGC maintains excellent relations with our city, county, and state agencies and we thank them for their mutual cooperation. As information developed, I decided that the risk to the campus was sufficiently mitigated to allow for the systematic closure of the campus until further notice. Campus police began to systematically enter and clear occupied buildings and to direct occupants to leave the area. Residential students were asked to remain within the residence buildings. Meals will be delivered to the residents in their buildings, and additional security will be provided throughout this situation. All classes for Monday, November 16th, are cancelled.
Extended periods of lockdown in tight quarters carry their own unique challenges given the size and range of issues associated with a community of 13,000. Yet, by all accounts, the community remained calm and cooperative. I could not be more proud. The safety and security of the GGC community remain the very top priority for this administration. Guidance for the reopening of campus will be forthcoming as the unfolding situation indicates.
The investigation was ongoing.
