Georgia Tech Shooting: Violent Protests At Vigil Caused By 'Outside Agitators,' President Says

ATLANTA, GA -- Georgia Tech's president said Tuesday that violent protests that marred a vigil for a fallen student was the result of "outside agitators intent on disrupting the event," Patch has learned. Tech president G.P. “Bud” Peterson made the remarks in a letter to Georgia Tech community in the wake of the officer-involved shooting death of engineering student Scout Shultz.

Shultz was gunned down Saturday night after refusing to put down a knife when confronted by police officers, according to authorities. (Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

A vigil honoring the life of Shultz, the leader of the Pride Alliance and an LGBTQIA activist, descended into chaos Monday night after protesters set a police cruiser on fire.

Peterson said the violence was started not by students, but “by several dozen others intent on creating a disturbance and inciting violence,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The university also identified the officer in the shooting as Tyler Beck. Beck joined the force in May 2016 and while he was certified by the Georgia Peace Officer and Standards Training Council, he had not undergone Crisis Intervention Training, according to the AJC.

Three people were arrested in the incident, and two police officers were injured, with one of them being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. The people arrested include Jacob David Wilson, Vincent Castillenti, and Cassandra Monden, authorities said.

Wilson is charged with three counts of criminal trespass (misdemeanor), and two counts of aggravated assault against an officer (felony).

Castillenti is charged with willful obstruction of a law officer by use of threats or violence, and aggravated assault on an officer of court while officer is engaged on account of performance.

Monden was identified as Andrew Xavier Monden by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Monden is charged with interference with government property, and inciting to rioting (misdemeanor).

Thousands of students showed up at the vigil, lighting candles around the Georgia Tech Campanile, the spot where Schultz was killed. Flowers accumulated at a makeshift memorial on Eighth Street in front of the West Village.

The event, put together by the Pride Alliance of Georgia Tech and the GT Progressive Student Alliance, was organized to honor the contributions of Schultz, who the groups regarded as a "charismatic" and "inspirational" leader.

But then sadness turned to anger. Then things got violent, and soon a police cruiser was engulfed in flames.

Pictures and video of the scene on social media showed people scattering into the street amid plumes of smoke. Georgia Tech posted on Twitter advising students to "seek shelter in a secure location until further notice." In a followup message, the university said: "Stay inside due to violent protests on campus. Avoid Hemphill Avenue. Stay inside until told otherwise."

Many openly questioned why police officers didn't use nonlethal force when confronting Schultz, who suffered from depression. Schultz's mother said the student attempted suicide by hanging two years ago.

On Monday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that three suicide notes were found in Schultz's dorm room.

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Students are encouraged to take advantage of the university's resources to cope with their grief over the shooting. The Georgia Tech Counseling Center was taking walk-ins this week. Also, students were being directed to contact the Office of the Dean of Students or the Georgia Crisis and Access Line for more support.

“As we work through this tragic event, I encourage you to take advantage of all of the resources we provide here on campus for mental, emotional, and physical well-being,” Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson said in a campus message. “In the days and weeks to come, we will offer opportunities for dialogue and will respond with additional resources as needed for healing. Together, we will get through this.”

More than 500 students have signed up for an 11 a.m. cleanup Tuesday in the aftermath of Monday night's violent protests.

Additionally, another student has organized a GoFundMe to pay for the police officer's car that was burned up. In less than eight hours, reached $2,600 toward its $10,000 goal.

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Image via Georgia Tech