Newspaper Page Text
Clark Atlanta
University
PANTHER
Volume II Number VIII Atlanta, Georgia November 16, 1990
CA U Student Killed During Robbery
DUANE ALAN GOODMAN
PHOTO BY EVITA ELLIS
SGA President Jamyee Pleasant talks with a student after Goodman's memorial service.
By PAULETTE V. WALKER
Editor-m-Chief
Duane Goodman was buried at his home in Columbus, Ga.
Thursday. The 19-year-old Clark Atlanta University freshman
was killed during a robbery early Sunday near the school’s
campus. Atlanta police have arrested two suspects.
Goodman, who lived off campus, was shot during a robbery
attempt on the corner of Vine and Fair streets. He was killed by
a point-blank gun shot to the head, 40 yards from the front
entrance of the E. L. Simon Courts. He was pronounced dead
at the scene.
Another C AU student who was walking with Goodman was
pistol whipped in the face by one of the gunmen wearing a
stocking mask. He was one of two men who jumped out of a
car and attempted to rob the two students.
“A car backed up, stopped, two men got out, and that’s when
Mr. Goodman was shot,” said Lt. Danny Agan of the Atlanta
homicide unit.
Lt. Agan refused to identify Goodman’s companion for fear
he would be targeted by the muggers for retribution.
Montavis Farmer, a 17-year-old high school dropout, was
charged with murder Tuesday night. Farmer, who was
convicted of drug traffiking and weapons violations in August,
lives 12 blocks from where Goodman was shot. Many of his
neighbors are students renting rooms at boarding houses.
Wednesday, his 16-year-old companion was arrested at a
friend’s house in the College Park area and also charged,
Atlanta police said.
The shooting may have been connected to an earlier robbery
spree in the same area in which armed gunmen riding in a car
threatened and fired shots at students, said police.
University officials said Goodman was shot inadvertently
when the gunman hit the companion in the face with his gun,
causing it to discharge. Police would not confirm that version
of the killing.
“1 don’t care what they call it, whether they intended to kill
him or not, it was murder” said Mary Goodman, Duane’s
mother, in a published report.
According to LaTonda James, 18, a freshman at CAU,
Goodman and his companion had been with several friends in
the Courts dormitory early Sunday morning and decided to go
home because it was getting late. They were on their way to the
Vine City MARTA station she said.
Ms. James said she left about 10 minutes later and saw
Goodman’s companion being escorted back toward the
dormitory by a security officer. When asked about Goodman,
his companion replied, “Some Atlanta boys got him.”
Another CAU student, Tracy Johnson, said that he and his
roommate, Michael Lennon were also shot at three hours
earlier while walking along James P. Brawley Drive to Stegal’s
store.
University officials called an emergency meeting Sunday
afternoon for all campus students. Nearly 300 angry students
complained to Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr., CAU president, Dr.
Larry Earvin, associate provost and James Sims, president of
Sims Security. The complaints ranged from “...lax and
ineffective security guards,” to poor lighting in the Courts.
At a memorial service for Goodman Tuesday, Atlanta
Police Chief Eldrin Bell said, “We will be here with you
continuing to work with you through this agony and pain. Not
just now, but in the future to bring all AUC security together to
coordinate a safer environment for all.”
Following the memorial serivce President Cole met with
students again to discuss their concerns.
“1 have called this meeting to give you more confidence that
the administration is concerned about you and your safety,”
said Dr. Cole. “You have a right to learn without fear.”
Despite his constant reassurances that improvements in
campus security would take place, students spent more than
three hours bombarding the president with accusations and
demands.
“Why does it take the death of a student for you all to wake
up,” shouted one angry student as many others shouted and
clapped in agreement.