Two A&T Students Shot in Off-Campus Apartment

Parents of North Carolina A&T students got a hard dose of reality Thursday as they helped their children move into dorms and apartments near campus. Two students were shot inside an apartment complex known for housing A&T students.

Police said Charles Edward Monroe, 22, and Austin Needham, 21, were shot during an attempted robbery in a second-story unit at the Statesman Court apartment complex on S. Benbow Rd. around 10:30 p.m.

Police said three men inside apartment Q in the 401 building heard a knock a the door and answered it. Two men stormed in with guns and demanded money. In the fray, Monroe was shot twice and Needham once, police said.

Both men were treated at Moses Cone Hospital and their injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said. But not everyone has been lucky recently.

In January, A&T senior Dennis Hayle was shot to death outside of his apartment. His killer is still on the loose. Derek Hodge was also killed at his off-campus apartment, in April 2008. Police have arrested a suspect in his murder.

Police are searching for two suspects in Thursday night's shootings. It's unclear if the victims and suspects knew each other. The first suspect is a light skinned black male, 6'4" and wearing a white t-shirt. The second suspect is described as a dark skinned black male wearing a brown shirt, blue jeans and brown boots.

"I'm going to be nervous. This is the first time on his own in an apartment. He's been in a dorm, which is fine," said Sharion Jones, a concerned parent who was helping her son move in before the semester starts. "Being in an apartment in a strange town, I'm not sure."

University officials have already met with campus police regarding the shootings. Statesman Court employs private security guards 24 hours a day.

"We've increased patrols. We have seven new officers we didn't have last year. We have foot patrol, bike patrol. Greensboro police has increased patrol," said A&T Police Chief Glen Newell. "We're hoping that is going to show a presence and deter criminal activity on and off campus."