Samantha Lund, News Editor
A noise complaint, turned into a fight which turned into a murder Monday night at a nearby apartment complex.
According to The News Tribune’s report, neighbors called 911 at 11:30 p.m. to report two men fighting in the third-floor hallway of the University Park apartments on Wheeler Street.
The Sheriff’s Department responded and found the victim, 50-year-old Dan Hoglund, slumped over in the hallway near his apartment. The Sheriff deputy declared him dead at the scene.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office said Hoglund died from multiple stab wounds.
The Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree murder and was charged on Wednesday.
The suspect was found on the second floor of the complex cleaning himself after the altercation, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.
A pocket knife was recovered from the suspect’s apartment. The suspect was booked into Pierce County Jail.
Director of Campus Safety, Greg Premo said students should not be afraid. That night, Campus Safety was monitoring the Sheriff’s Dept. radio when they heard the call go out. The Sheriff Dept.’s deputies arrived quickly at the scene and had the suspect detained.
Campus Safety contacted the Sheriff’s Department to confirm there was no ongoing threat to campus.
The Sheriff’s Dept. confirmed the suspect was in custody and no PLU community members were involved in the altercation.
Students walking and driving around campus Monday night saw police cars and ambulances lining Wheeler.
“As an RA, I deal with noise complaints all the time,” sophomore Anthony Aguilar said. “I can’t imagine how it would escalate to someone stabbing someone to shut them up.”
Some PLU students live in the apartments. According to the Sheriff’s Dept. there were no students involved in that night’s activities except for those who may have been woken up by the noise.
Students feel safe on campus, but this event will act as a reminder to be more careful in general.
If students feel like they are ever in danger, or need help, Campus Safety will respond to calls 24 hours a day and can help in most emergency situations. Call 253-535-7441 for non-emergencies, and call 253-535-7911 for emergency situations.
