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BREAKING NEWS: Welty approves IRA increase

University President John D. Welty revealed exclusively to The Collegian on Tuesday morning that he has decided to accept the Campus Fee Advisory Committee’s recommendation to increase student fees by $52, with $20 going to academics and $32 going to athletics.

The increase is down from the $70 Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) fee increase that students voted against in the fee referendum last month.

Welty said he made the decision because there are several programs and academic projects that would be in serious jeopardy if the additional revenue were not made available. With regards to athletics, Welty said that it’s an issue of fairness.

“The community has provided significant support for [the athletics] program over the years,” he said. “If we’re going to continue, everyone has to pay part of the cost of the program.”

Welty said he made his decision after careful consideration.

“It’s important that I don’t take the issue of raising student fees lightly,” he said. “It’s a difficult decision.”

The official announcement regarding the fee increase is expected this afternoon.

Fresno State to further appeal Stacy Johnson-Klein case

Fresno State filed an appeal with Fresno County Superior Court on Feb. 27, asking the $6.6 million award to former women’s basketball coach, Stacy Johnson-Klein be reduced to $2.9 million.

Earlier in the month, Fresno State won an appeal asking that Johnson-Klein’s initial $19.1 million settlement be reduced to the $6.6 million. Fresno State also asked for a new trial, but Judge Donald S. Black said that he would only grant one if Johnson-Klein did not accept the award.

In this most recent appeal, Fresno State is asking that Black change that decision and order a new trial regardless of the reduced award.

It could be several months before the appeal is heard, and the appeal itself, if granted, could last for another one to two years. Both sides are considering settlement talks before the case goes to trial.

Johnson-Klein initially sued the university in 2005, alleging gender discrimination after she was fired.

Fresno State has said that she was fired for several violations, including taking half a bottle of prescription pain killers from a player.

Johnson-Klein accepts $6.6 million award

Stacy Johnson-Klein will accept the reduced $6.6 million award in the judgment that was handed down by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Donald S. Black on Friday. Black had given Johnson-Klein until Feb. 22 to accept the award or face a new trial.

The original award had been $19.1 million in the former Fresno State women’s basketball coach’s gender-discrimination lawsuit against Fresno State.

Claudia Keith, a California State University spokesperson, said previously that there are other appeals that Fresno State can file despite Johnson-Klein’s acceptance of the award. Fresno State has not yet announced what action it plans to take next.

Dawn Theodora of the university counsel said that Fresno State hopes to resolve the matter as quickly and as fairly as possible.

“We’re very pleased that Ms. Johnson-Klein moved so quickly to accept the judge’s ruling reducing the verdict,” Theodora said. “Our main goal is we all want to move forward towards a fair resolution of the case … As we move along here and determine what the best course is, we’ll announce that as soon as we can.”

UPDATE: Shooting suspect in custody

UPDATED: 12:32 p.m.

The suspect in a shooting near the Fresno State campus that left one dead and wounded two others has been apprehended.

Fresno State criminology major Jonquel Brooks was arrested at approximately 11:30 a.m., Police Chief Jerry Dyer said in a press conference held at the Fresno Police Department. Brooks was found in the vicinity of Peach and Olive avenues.

Dyer said in an attempt to avoid being recognized, Brooks “altered his appearance significantly�? by shaving his head and changing clothes.

The shooting occurred between Brooks and four others in Brooks’ apartment, Dyer said. Each of the victims was found in a different apartment in the complex.

University Village is a three-story complex consisting of 108 four-room pods.

“I want to thank the Fresno Police Department and the officers involved,�? Fresno State President John Welty said. He added that he arrived at the crime scene at about 1:30 a.m.

The search for the handgun used in the shooting continues; police have six search warrants locations to find the weapon.

UPDATE: Fatal shooting victim identified

UPDATED: 11:45 a.m.

Brant Daniels, 19, a former Fresno State student who loved basketball was killed at the University Village apartment complex when a confrontation over a video game ended in gunfire.

Narvin Barring, a sophomore health science major said he was a friend of the victim. Barring said the two had met at a basketball tournament and then again at the Student Recreation Center where they frequently played basketball. Barring also said they went to parties together.

“We weren’t sure it was him at first,�? Barring said. He said a friend had contacted him around 8 a.m. and that he and his brother then called another friend to confirm the news. Barring said he has been trying to contact friends of Daniels’ family.

According to Barring, Daniels was, “just the kind of guy who would make you laugh all the time.�?

Police were still searching for the suspect late Tuesday morning.

UPDATE: Fatal shooting near campus

UPDATED: 9:51 a.m.

The search for the suspect in the fatal shooting at University Village continues, and students who live in the complex are returning to the residence where three people were shot, one fatally.

The suspect, Jonquel Brooks, is a Fresno State student majoring in criminology. The victims were all male, and the deceased person was a former Fresno State student. One of the victims is a current student and the other is a pending student. Both faced moderate, non-life threatening injuries and have been released from the hospital.

The suspect failed to turn himself in at 9 a.m. as was negotiated with law enforcement.

Dyer said if the suspect is listening, he would say the following:
“I would tell Jonquel that he is in very serious trouble, that he is wanted for murder, as well as assault with a deadly weapon on two other individuals, that we take that very seriously. We know that he is armed and he is a threat to society, and that he needs to surrender as soon as he possibly can, whether that be with or without his attorney.”

Dyer said Jonquel’s father, who lives in Hayward, is in communication with law enforcement and the suspect. As part of the agreement with law enforcement, the suspect asked that his father be present at police headquarters when he was supposed to turn himself in.

As recently as this past hour, law enforcement has been in communication with the suspect, who said that he was now going to contact his attorney first before turning himself in to police.

“He’s still very nervous,” Dyer said of the suspect.

Residents of University Village were evacuated early this morning to the campus Residence Dining Hall and The Atrium, where they received blankets and food.

Police have not located the firearm at this point, and the suspect is still considered to be armed and dangerous, Dyer said.

“We’ve not located the firearm, and even if we had, this is an individual that has committed a murder and shot two other people, and we consider to him to be very serious and very much a threat.”

Dyer said it’s believed the shooting was the result of the confrontation over a video game.

The police chief said, “It’s sad to say that all of this erupted over some type of dispute over a PlayStation.”

BREAKING NEWS: Student suspected in shooting

Juan Villa / The Collegian

6:52 a.m. According to local news station ABC 30 a Fresno State student is the suspect in a shooting that killed one person and wounded two others.

Jonquel Brooks, a 19-year-old, is believed to be contained in the University Village
apartment complex where the incident occurred.

The shooting occurred late Monday evening, and the individual who was killed is believed to be a former Fresno State student.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said the police were in contact with the suspect.

Currently Barstow Avenue is closed between Cedar Avenue and 9th Street.

Fresno State’s emergency hotline was updated as of 5:45 a.m. and said that classes are open and on schedule. Students who live in the University Village were evacuated and taken to the Residence Dining Hall.

For more information contact the Fresno State emergency hotline at 278-4000. The Collegian will continue to update itself throughout the day.

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