Del State victim dies of her wounds

DOVER, Del. - A Delaware State University student wounded in a September campus shooting died of her injuries yesterday, according to statement released by her family.

Shalita K. Middleton, 17, a cheerleader and freshman biology major from Washington, D.C., died about 3:30 p.m. at Christiana Hospital in Newark, according to the family's statement, which was released by the university.

"She struggled valiantly over the last several weeks and she was an inspiration to all of her friends both in Washington D.C. and in Delaware, as well as her family members, especially her mother Lavita and her father Tom," the family said. "Ultimately, however, the internal injuries that she suffered were in the end too critical to overcome."

Middleton was shot in the abdomen when gunfire broke out on campus Sept. 21. Nathaniel Pugh, another 17-year-old student from Washington, suffered an ankle wound.

University president Allen Sessoms said the DSU community was "grieving and deeply saddened" by Middleton's death.

"Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult time," Sessoms said in a statement. "I know I speak for all our DSU family in offering our heartfelt condolences."

University spokesman Carlos Holmes said two administrators from the school were with Middleton's family when she died.

"We understood that she had taken a turn for the worse," he said.

Campus police had hoped to interview Middleton about what happened on the night of the shooting, but Holmes said they never got the opportunity.

At a Sept. 28 court hearing for the accused gunman, Loyer D. Braden, university police Lt. Donald Baynard said Middleton had not regained consciousness and was breathing with the help of a tube.

Braden, an 18-year-old freshman from East Orange, N.J., is being held in lieu of $92,000 bail on charges of attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

With Middleton's death, Braden now faces a possible murder charge. His defense attorney, James Liguori, did not immediately return a telephone message left with his answering service Tuesday night.

Jason Miller, a spokesman for Attorney General Beau Biden, declined to comment on charges against Braden being amended.

"The attorney general and the Department of Justice extend their deepest sympathy to the family of Shalita Middleton," he said.

Braden is accused of shooting Pugh and Middleton shortly before 1 a.m. on Sept. 21, after they left a campus cafe.

Baynard testified that Braden had been in a fight two days earlier with another freshman, James O. Richmond, who spit in Braden's face after his lip was bloodied. The two, accompanied by friends, saw each other again on the night of Sept. 20 at the cafe, where Richmond had gone with a group that included Pugh and Middleton. Middleton was among those who tried to defuse the altercation in the cafe.

Holmes said the school likely would hold a memorial service for Middleton.

"We'll be talking tomorrow," he said. "We're waiting to see what the funeral arrangements are."