February 8, 2008

Some of you may not be aware that last night seven people were shot at a City Council meeting in Kirkwood, Missouri—the St. Louis suburb located immediately west of Webster University’s hometown of Webster Groves. 

Six people have died, including the gunman, and Kirkwood’s mayor, who was shot in the head, is in critical condition at a local hospital where he is undergoing surgery.  The victims include two Kirkwood police officers, two members of the Kirkwood City Council, and Kirkwood’s Public Works Director.

Many people at Webster University personally knew the victims and their families, the injured and people who attended last night’s meeting.  The incident in Kirkwood has permeated the national news and the entire St. Louis community is in shock.

Many members of our Webster University family live in Kirkwood or have close ties to the Kirkwood community.  Last night’s tragic shooting has resonated throughout not only Kirkwood but also in Webster Groves and every other communal town and neighborhood in the St. Louis metropolitan area. 

On behalf of every member of our faculty, staff and student body as well as Webster University alumni throughout the world, I would like to express our deepest sympathy for the tragedy that has so harshly touched all of our treasured neighbors in Kirkwood.

Our thoughts are with you.