Campus Killer Speaks Out On YouTube
POSTED: Monday, April 13, 2009
UPDATED: 5:24 pm EDT April 13,
2009
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DEARBORN, Mich. -- The man police said is accused of a murder-suicide at Henry Ford Community College left a videotape message on YouTube shortly before the crimes.Anthony Powell suffered from chronic depression. His mother, Doris Powell said she thought her son would kill himself."I'm really thinking about killing myself. I think I am going to do it. I'm just scared." Powell stated on YouTube.Watch: 
Campus Killer Speaks Out On YouTubeWatch: Warning: YouTube Post By Campus Killer Is ExplicitHis mother said he was pretty shy."He wouldn't talk to people. He would talk nonstop to family and that Internet," Powell said. " I never thought in a million years my son would take someone else's life."Henry Ford Community College was locked down Friday afternoon, and remains closed on Monday.Police said they got a call about 12:30 p.m. on a report of an assault. En route, they got another report of shots being fired at the college's MacKenzie fine arts center.When police arrived, they found theater student Asia McGowan, 20, and Anthony Powell, 28, dead.Police said Powell used a shotgun to shoot McGowan and himself.Local 4 has learned the two students had a theater class together.Friday night, McGowan’s family spoke.They described her as an aspiring actress, singer and dancer.“That was her favorite thing, dancing, singing and film,” said McGowan’s mother, Pamela Peterson. “She wanted to do it all, she had nothing but life in her and I don't understand how it was snuffed out today.”“That's one thing that I admire about my cousin, she very, very ambitious. If there wasn't a way, she was going to make it happen. I'm at a loss for words,” said cousin Rashida Morris."She was beautiful, an aspiring actress and dancer," said Turahn McGowan, who added that his daughter had planned to try out for the Fox network's "So You Think You Can Dance" talent competition.Peterson said her daughter was not romantically involved with Powell.Investigators said that it appeared Powell made several advances but was turned down each time. Police said Asia McGowan was rehearsing a scene in the empty room at Henry Ford Community College when Powell barged in.A witness posted a series of videos on YouTube moments after the shooting.Watch: Student Video On YouTube "As we approached the door, cops came in and told us to sit down. They said, 'OK we're going to explain it to you. We believe it was some sort of lovers quarrel,'" said student Ashley Behne.The 17,000-student commuter school was closed through the weekend and Monday as administrators decide how to handle grief-stricken students and ramp up security."HFCC administrators are trying to put students at ease and told us that security would be beefed up," said student Rachara Kelley.The building where the shooting took place will remain closed, and the classes that were in there will be moved to other buildings."Right now faculty and staff are trying to figure out where they will meet," said Kelley.School representative Marjorie Swan said in a news conference Friday that the school employed the emergency notification system and immediately alerted students and staff by cell phone and e-mail."One of my students had a cell phone and he said, 'It's just came across my cell phone -- there's police in the building.' I said, 'Well then, were in good shape, the police are in the building," said a 10-year teacher at the school.Swan thanked the Dearborn police and the Michigan State Police for their quick response.Counseling will be offered to students and employees. Visit the school's Web site for more information."Our hearts go out to the family of the woman who lost her life today," said Swan."If Henry Ford is not safe anymore, I just don't know where to go anymore for education. I think it's just crazy," said Hanadi Charara."It hit really close to home, actually it hit home this time," said Kelley.McGowan's family scheduled a fundraiser to cover burial costs.The fundraise will be on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rollercade on Schaefer Road in Ecorse.
Campus Killer Speaks Out On YouTubeWatch: Warning: YouTube Post By Campus Killer Is ExplicitHis mother said he was pretty shy."He wouldn't talk to people. He would talk nonstop to family and that Internet," Powell said. " I never thought in a million years my son would take someone else's life."Henry Ford Community College was locked down Friday afternoon, and remains closed on Monday.Police said they got a call about 12:30 p.m. on a report of an assault. En route, they got another report of shots being fired at the college's MacKenzie fine arts center.When police arrived, they found theater student Asia McGowan, 20, and Anthony Powell, 28, dead.Police said Powell used a shotgun to shoot McGowan and himself.Local 4 has learned the two students had a theater class together.Friday night, McGowan’s family spoke.They described her as an aspiring actress, singer and dancer.“That was her favorite thing, dancing, singing and film,” said McGowan’s mother, Pamela Peterson. “She wanted to do it all, she had nothing but life in her and I don't understand how it was snuffed out today.”“That's one thing that I admire about my cousin, she very, very ambitious. If there wasn't a way, she was going to make it happen. I'm at a loss for words,” said cousin Rashida Morris."She was beautiful, an aspiring actress and dancer," said Turahn McGowan, who added that his daughter had planned to try out for the Fox network's "So You Think You Can Dance" talent competition.Peterson said her daughter was not romantically involved with Powell.Investigators said that it appeared Powell made several advances but was turned down each time. Police said Asia McGowan was rehearsing a scene in the empty room at Henry Ford Community College when Powell barged in.A witness posted a series of videos on YouTube moments after the shooting.Watch: Student Video On YouTube "As we approached the door, cops came in and told us to sit down. They said, 'OK we're going to explain it to you. We believe it was some sort of lovers quarrel,'" said student Ashley Behne.The 17,000-student commuter school was closed through the weekend and Monday as administrators decide how to handle grief-stricken students and ramp up security."HFCC administrators are trying to put students at ease and told us that security would be beefed up," said student Rachara Kelley.The building where the shooting took place will remain closed, and the classes that were in there will be moved to other buildings."Right now faculty and staff are trying to figure out where they will meet," said Kelley.School representative Marjorie Swan said in a news conference Friday that the school employed the emergency notification system and immediately alerted students and staff by cell phone and e-mail."One of my students had a cell phone and he said, 'It's just came across my cell phone -- there's police in the building.' I said, 'Well then, were in good shape, the police are in the building," said a 10-year teacher at the school.Swan thanked the Dearborn police and the Michigan State Police for their quick response.Counseling will be offered to students and employees. Visit the school's Web site for more information."Our hearts go out to the family of the woman who lost her life today," said Swan."If Henry Ford is not safe anymore, I just don't know where to go anymore for education. I think it's just crazy," said Hanadi Charara."It hit really close to home, actually it hit home this time," said Kelley.McGowan's family scheduled a fundraiser to cover burial costs.The fundraise will be on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rollercade on Schaefer Road in Ecorse.
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- April 12, 2009: HFCC Shooting Victim's Family Speaks
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