Police interview 27 people about campus beating

~ Detectives hope to present prosecutors with a case early next week.

Southeast Missouri State University athletic officials looked at potential football coaches this week while police looked at football players as potential suspects in a fraternity party beating.

The coaching search has had no impact on the investigation, Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer said. The weeklong investigation has stretched out because of the large number of interviews, Selzer said.

"We get nothing but cooperation from the university in any capacity we need," Selzer said. "We have had no problem there."

The university is refraining from any action in the case, athletic director Don Kaverman said. No players will be disciplined while the investigation is underway and no separate investigation will be conducted, he said.

"This is an ongoing police matter," he said. "We are not going to interfere in any way, shape or form. When advised, and if advised, we will take it from there."

Detectives hope to present prosecutors with a case early next week against suspects in the ambush beating of two Southeast Missouri students by up to 15 people, including several suspects identified as members of the football squad.

More than two dozen witnesses gave police interviews this week, Selzer said.

"They have to take their time and get it right," he said. "Next week they are hoping to have something compiled together, and the next step will be presenting something to the prosecutor."

Ransom Ward and Shaun Johnson, both sophomores, reported they had been beaten at a party at the Pi Kappa Alpha lodge on South Sprigg Street. They told police they were jumped early Sunday morning as they were walking toward buses waiting to return them to campus.

Johnson suffered damaged teeth, a black eye and other facial injuries after he was punched, knocked unconscious and kicked as he lay on the ground.

Ward suffered a black eye, split lip, broken nose and suffered a cut under his lips that required several stitches to close.

Both students are from St. Louis. Earlier this week, they said they believed the attack was planned but were unable to explain what motivated the beating.

Johnson and Ward returned home this week. Johnson's mother, Sylvia Johnson, said Friday that her son will complete his semester by taking final exam over the Internet.

"He has no reason to go back down there until all this is taken care of," she said.

Ward will take some exams online and some by returning to campus, he said Friday.

Both Ward and Sylvia Johnson said they are glad police are strongly pursuing the case.

Final exams for the fall semester wrap up next week. Detectives working on the case are aware of that deadline but are not letting it dictate the pace of the investigation, Selzer said.

The lead detective, Cpl. Don Perry, has interviewed 20 witnesses since receiving the assignment, Selzer said. A second detective has taken statements from an additional seven witnesses.

Finishing those interviews has prolonged the investigation, Selzer said. "Your normal case you are not going to have that many witnesses," he said. "That is an unusually high number of witnesses."

Johnson was taken from the scene to Southeast Missouri Hospital for treatment. Ward rode a shuttle bus back to campus, then went for treatment after his dormitory roommate told him he should go.

The victims reported the attack to Cape Girardeau police Sunday morning after receiving treatment. They identified several of their attackers as football players from pictures in the annual football media guide.

Every witness interview has been conducted voluntarily, Selzer said. No one contacted by police has declined to speak about what they know, he said.

The initial incident report indicated police were investigating the case as second-degree assault, a felony with a potential punishment of up to seven years in prison.

Any athlete charged with a felony is automatically suspended, athletic director Kaverman said in an interview this week.

The party at the Pi Kappa Alpha or "Pike" lodge was conducted jointly with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha vice president Mike Taylor said this week. Taylor, while unable to identify any individual involved in beating Ward or Johnson, has said he is sure that no fraternity members or football players were involved.

Police are also looking into reports that a third victim was hit in the head with a beer bottle. They have the reported victim's name, Selzer said, but have been unable to make contact.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126