Marcus Smith was arrested on the scene. He is a 21-year-old sociology major at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and is originally from the Roxbury neighborhood in Boston. He was first transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, where he was treated for a hand injury, and then taken into custody.
Smith was held with a $25,000 bail at the Hampshire County House of Correction until his arraignment on Monday morning. Charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, a felony punishable by 10 years in a state prison, Smith pleaded not guilty; his trial will be held in Eastern County District Court on March 12. Until then, he is being held at the House of Correction without bail.
The Black Men’s Group (BMG) hosted the party, which was open to students from the Five Colleges. The exact events leading up to the stabbing remain unclear, as the investigation is ongoing and witnesses have yet to be interviewed. “It would be inappropriate to comment on anything that might impact the investigation,” said College Chief of Police John Carter.
This incident shocked students and faculty alike. “I have been here for 25 years and nothing like this has ever happened before,” said Dean of Students Ben Lieber.
Student Security member Katrina Gonzales ’12 recalled her experience that night: “Originally I was stationed near the bathroom where it happened … I had a clear view from across the room, keeping a general watch. The room was dimly lit … but there was enough light for me to see when two guys [started fighting], so I turned on the lights. I saw him hug the victim and thrust, though I wasn’t sure if it was with his fist or a weapon.”
At first, not all students were aware of what happened. The music was still playing at that point, and many students resisted orders to evacuate the premises, said Gonzales. Students were more responsive once the DJ stopped the music and announced that the party was over. “We were dancing and the DJ stopped the music, pointing toward the fight, which was close to the entrance of Crossett Basement. We saw two students fighting and after a while one of them went to the ground,” said Pranay Kirpalani ’12.
The police and fire departments arrived on the scene very quickly and closed off the crime scene. Student Security was given the responsibility of keeping students from re-entering and organizing the many lost coats, wallets and other items that had been left behind. “We had a meeting afterward, and we weren’t blamed for what happened,” recalls Shirui Chen ’12, also a member of Student Security. “We were just asked if we were okay.”
Before granting students entrance to the party, Student Security had checked the IDs of and patted down each student individually, specifically looking for lighters, knives and alcohol. Following the same protocol as at any other open party, two police officers were also stationed there. According to Kirpalani, students felt safe. Before entering the party, “Student Security patted us [down] and was checking our pockets ... There are lots of places you can hide a knife like that so that Student Security wouldn’t find it … by and large, I think Amherst parties are pretty safe.”
The Campus Police and Dean of Students’ Office have collaborated to review “the policies and procedures surrounding parties,” said Carter. “[We] continually monitor factors that impact student safety. Safety on campus is an ever-evolving program that is often driven by local [and] national events.” It is under question whether the College’s policy to allow students from the Five Colleges will be revised.