Flo Valley student shot near campus

By Chris Cunningham
The Scene staff

A male student at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley was shot near campus on Feb. 20.

He is expected to survive. Police aren’t releasing his name, age or any other identifying information.

Two men were arrested in connection with the case, including alleged shooter Jeffrey Burnett, 19, of Florissant, and alleged accomplice John Dailey, 20, of Hazelwood. Neither is a Flo Valley student.

Kedra Tolson, the college’s coordinator of public information and marketing, emphasized the shooting was an isolated incident.

“We are a safe and secure campus,” she said. “We put everyone’s safety first.”

Ferguson Police Department is handling the investigation.

The victim had arranged to meet the two men for a drug deal, Chief Thomas Jackson said. Shots were fired about 2:05 p.m. in a car near Hudson Road and College Drive.

The victim was shot four times in his back and chest, Jackson said. He is hospitalized at DePaul Health Center.

A student who witnessed the shooting took the victim to the college’s physical facilities building. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

It’s not clear if the victim will be charged with a drug-related crime.

“It’s possible,” Jackson said. “But we are going to wait until his condition improves to interview him more.”

Burnett is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.

Dailey is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, tampering with physical evidence and two counts of armed criminal action.

Tolson has seen no shift in the mood of campus since the shooting.

“(Nothing) that I’ve noticed,” she said. “The day after it happened, we were on snow day, which gave time for everyone to process what happened.”