College Professor Charged with Murder of Incoming Freshman

Richard Sigman, a professor at the University of West Georgia (UWG), was arrested on July 30 and charged with murder. He allegedly shot and killed an 18 year-old incoming freshman at UWG, Anna Jones. Jones (second from the right in the above picture) was due to start classes this month.

Fox News reports that Sigman allegedly fired into a car at a courthouse parking deck, killing Jones on Saturday morning, just after midnight. Carrollton Police posted on Facebook that the incident allegedly began when Sigman and another man got into an argument at a local pizzeria. The man that Sigman was arguing with notified security that Sigman had threatened to shoot him. Sigman was told to leave after security approached him and saw that he had a weapon. Police said that he left and walked toward the parking deck, where he began shooting into a parked vehicle. 

Anna Jones was hit, and her friends drove her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police are not sure who the intended target was, or if Sigman and Jones knew each other. The investigation is still active.

Sigman has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and one count of murder. He is currently in custody.

The University of West Georgia responded almost immediately. They announced in an email that Sigman was no longer employed by the school. The school also said that they would be providing counseling for students and staff.