Gunman in wig kills Wesleyan student working at bookstore near campus, is hunted by police

Gunman in wig kills Conn. student at bookstore

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — A disguised gunman fatally shot a Wesleyan University student while she worked at a popular bookstore near campus Wednesday before fleeing into the bustling downtown area, leaving his wig behind.

Police with dogs and armed with assault rifles swarmed nearby streets looking for a suspect early Wednesday afternoon and asked Wesleyan students to stay indoors. But after reassuring residents later in the afternoon that there was no threat to the public, police issued new warnings Wednesday night, telling residents and students to stay inside and be “extra vigilant.”

They also released a surveillance photo taken inside the bookstore of a thin, bearded man they described as armed and dangerous.

Police Lt. Margaret Liseo said evidence uncovered at the scene “heightened our level of concern,” but she wouldn’t say what the evidence was.

“We just want to get the message out there to be extra vigilant,” she said. “This individual is armed and dangerous, and we want to be sure public safety is our top priority.”

The victim was identified as Johanna Justin-Jinich, of Timnath, Colo. She was working at the Red and Black Cafe inside Broad Street Books when the gunman shot her several times. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Justin-Jinich would have graduated next year from Wesleyan, a private liberal arts school in central Connecticut with about 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Numerous newspaper and television reports said the suspect was an ex-boyfriend, but Liseo could not confirm the relationship.

“At this point, no,” she said. “The better answer is, we don’t know.”

University officials offered counseling Wednesday night.

“This is a devastating loss for Johanna’s family, friends, and for the entire Wesleyan Community,” the university said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to all those who grieve for Johanna, and we hope all can find comfort in the support of friends, teachers and classmates.”

Authorities said there were several witnesses to the shooting, and police found a wig used by the gunman and a weapon at the bookstore. Liseo said authorities haven’t confirmed that it was the weapon used in the shooting.

The shooting and manhunt forced police to order hundreds of college students gathered nearby for Wesleyan’s annual Spring Fling concerts to seek refuge. The concerts, held annually to allow students to blow off steam before spring semester finals, were canceled Wednesday.

Police officers were at the scene quickly because the station is less than two blocks away and officers were undergoing SWAT team training.

Outside the bookstore, several young women clustered outside the police line, crying. They said they were friends of the victim but would not talk to a reporter.

Other students called the shooting “tragic.”

“We went from the height of our mood where everyone was really happy the semester was over to we don’t even know what to think,” said Darien Combs, a 20-year-old sophomore from Denver. “We’re just processing.”

Associated Press writers Dave Collins in Hartford and John Christoffersen in New Haven contributed to this report.