University of Baltimore student warns others about campus security concerns
BALTIMORE - A student at the University of Baltimore has turned to social media to warn others about campus safety after a fellow student and classmate was arrested with a gun in his backpack and the University had done little to warn others about the threat. In a now-viral TiktTok posted on October 16, 2022, by Madison Vital who is a junior at the University of Baltimore, she warns all students and staff at the University “[they] are risking their life by being there” after several incidents occurred to her by a fellow student who police say has a long record and is known for similar incidents. Additionally, she says the University has done little to notify students or staff about the events and the possible danger they could be in.
In the three-minute video on TikTok, Vital talks about how she was stalked, threatened and assaulted by a student in one of her classes both on and off campus since the second week of classes. Classes began at the University on August 29, 2022. She also saw the student carrying a handgun to class, which is against university policy. Around October 5th and 6th, Vital reported these incidents to three different professors with the police getting involved in the situation by October 7th. It was then she filed both criminal charges and a peace order against the student, per recommendations by the police. After that, a warrant was issued for the student and he was arrested on October 10th on campus with a handgun found in their backpack. The student was bailed out of jail two days later. Vital says during that six-day period from when she first notified the school of the incident, and until the arrest, the University had not sent a single alert to students or staff of the threat of a student on campus with a gun. During this time, Vital reported she had not been on campus since the 6th, per advice from the police, due to the nature of the incident and the dangerous nature of this individual. When she has been to court or the campus for meetings, she has had a police escort at all times.
On October 12th, Vital says she went to court for the peace order, where she says the court ordered that this student that was arrested needed to stay away from the University of Baltimore. The following day, while in a meeting with the Dean of Students for the University of Baltimore, Vital was made aware that the student who was arrested was put on an interim suspension. She was also informed that following a required meeting with the arrested student and the Dean of Students, the University could decide to ignore the court order against the arrested student. If they did, he would be allowed back at the University of Baltimore. Up until that point, which she reports is over a week and a half later, the University still had not sent any formal email or notification to students or staff about the incident including the professors of the arrested student.
By October 14th, the University of Baltimore sent out the first email to students and faculty about the incident on campus where they mentioned that a student was arrested by police for various charges and for having a handgun. The email goes on to state that University police handled the incident quickly and that there was no ongoing threat to the community. In reference to the letter, Vital says she is worried about the fact the President of the University failed to make mention of the fact the student was arrested on campus with a handgun and has since been released from jail. “There are thousands of people going here every day, unaware of the fact this student could literally walk in at any second and kill them and the administration is pushing it under the rug” Vital states.
By October 17th, the president of the University sent out a second email in regard to the incident. In this email, the President again states “my comments on this matter reflect a requirement to respect student privacy rights while assuring the community that the University police and other officials are working together to maintain a safe environment.” He goes on to say “there is no need to alter classes, or other activities scheduled to occur on campus.” Vital remarks on how the University still has not done anything in regards to the incident and they continue to not comment on the incident directly. On the 19th of October, the President of the University sent out a third email in regard to the incident, where they again do not directly talk about the incident. Instead, they talk about the various events over the last few years they had to overcome, including the pandemic, civil unrest, and the economy. They later urge the community to come together in hard times, such as the one they are currently going through. The letter continues by talking about an event they had hosted the month before for the business school on Entreperniernalship and the President says “I’m not highlighting this as a way to turn the page on other current events.” He instead wants to show the “resilience” of the University.
In a final peace order hearing, the judge did extend the peace order on the arrested student for another 6 months. Vital reports, that it is possible to have that order extended if needed as well. In the order, the judge continues to order that the arrested student must stay away from the University of Baltimore Undergraduate school.
The arrested student is 29-year-old Jesse Francis of Dundalk, Maryland. Public records show he was arrested for second-degree assault, stalking, handgun on person, and telephone misuse. According to public records, this is the third peace order issued for him in a three-year period. Jesse is a Navy veteran. In July of 2021, the WBAL news station gave him a puppy named Brooks from their “Puppy with a Purpose" program. Francis found out about the program when he was being treated at Walter Reed.