HOUSTON – Charges have been upgraded against a Texas Southern University sophomore accused of shooting two people outside a campus dormitory after one of the victims died.
Darrius Nichols, 20, was initially charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but that charge has been upgraded to murder after Lakeytrick Quinn, 24, succumbed to his injuries.
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According to authorities, a TSU police officer responded to a disturbance call in the parking lot of the dorm in the 3500 block of Blodgett around 9:40 p.m. on Aug. 26.
Upon his arrival, the officer saw a man firing a gun toward a crowd.
The officer instructed the suspect to drop the gun, but the suspect turned toward the officer with the gun still his hand, police say. The officer discharged his duty weapon but missed.
TSU police Chief Roger Byars said, "The shooter actually had his weapon in hand and at one point, our investigation is revealing that he turned on the the officer and pointed. The officer did engage by shooting at the suspect. The officer's round hit a car next to the suspect. The suspect did go to the ground."
The suspect, Nichols, immediately surrendered and was taken into custody, police say.
Quinn and Alexandra Hicks, who are not TSU students, had been shot before the officer arrived.
Quinn was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He died two days later.
Hicks was also taken to the hospital, where she was treated and released.
The campus was never placed on lockdown.
Byars said, "The motive for it is not clear at this time. We do believe there was past history between some of these individuals that was to a degree hostile."