New York Breaking News

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (CBS) ― The family of Stephen Morgan, the man suspected of being the wig-wearing gunman who fatally shot a Wesleyan University student inside an off-campus bookstore, is asking him to turn himself in as officials revealed disturbing details about potential targets of Morgan's on Thursday.

"Evidence uncovered overnight suggests Mr. Morgan may be focused on the Wesleyan community campus as well as the Jewish community," said Middletown Police Chief Lynn Baldoni.

Police said Thursday the 29-year-old made threats in his journal against Wesleyan University and its Jewish students.

Officials said they had launched a nationwide manhunt for Morgan, saying he disguised himself with a wig and shot 21-year-old Johanna Justin-Jinich, a junior from Timnath, Colo., at her job at a cafe inside Broad Street Books, a popular bookstore.

"Investigators have been in contact with Wesleyan University and leaders of the Jewish community, urging both to be extra vigilant," said Baldoni.

She would not elaborate and did not take questions.

Late Thursday afternoon, Morgan's sister Diana issued a plea to her brother.

"We would like to send him a message via the media: Steve, turn yourself in to any law enforcement agency wherever you are to avoid any further bloodshed. We love you, we will support you in any way and we don't want anyone else to get hurt," she said.

The announcement that Morgan's diary entries indicate he may be targeting Wesleyan students and Jews landed like a bombshell on the campus already left deserted by an order that students stay inside and faculty and staff stay home.

"It's scary and I think a lot of people are nervous because we're not really sure if we're getting the full story yet, so a lot of people are leaving campus," said Wesleyan student Stephanie Ullmann.

"People are little confused about how worried they should be and whether they should be doing their daily activities or really staying inside," said student Jake Abrahamson.

And jittery nerves extended beyond the campus

Just a block from the bookstore where the shooting occured, police have asked a local synagogue, Adath Israel, to close down. They are taking no chances.

Also revealed Thursday was a New York connection to the case. Morgan and Justin-Jinich had been students at NYU two summers ago where she filed a complaint with the NYPD, alleging he sent her harrassing emails and phone calls.

Police interviewed both, but she declined to press charges

The normally busy campus was barren Thursday as officials urged students to remain indoors and staff to stay home. Spring classes have already concluded and finals have not yet begun.

"We think we are able to keep our students safe and we are working hard to do so," Wesleyan President Michael Roth said.

Police described the gunman as armed and dangerous and released a surveillance photo taken inside the bookstore of a thin, bearded man they believe is Morgan. Authorities didn't know if Morgan was still in the Middletown area, and said he has past connections to New York, Colorado and Massachusetts.

Police said Morgan tracked down 22-year-old Justin-Jinich and that he was her ex-boyfriend. She was working at the cafe counter. He walked up to her and shot her repeatedly at point blank range.

"It sounded just like real loud firecrackers but many of them," witness Jim Howes said.

Within minutes the scene was crawling with police officers and S.W.A.T. team members. For several hours Wesleyan students and staff were told to stay indoors and the campus and town were locked down as police searched for the gunman.

"You don't take it lightly," Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said. "You don't assume that they might not to do it again or get violent for self preservation."

University leaders called in counselors who kept office hours late into the night to help students with their grief and fear.

Justin-Jinich was from Timnath, Colo., and was a popular junior at Wesleyan.

Police described Morgan as pale skinned and thin. They said he wore a wig as a disguise during the shooting.

That wig and a gun were recovered at the scene, but the suspect is out there somewhere and that makes students nervous.

"I hope that the police can find the suspect as soon as possible. Then we can have our study environment," grad student Ling Xie said.

The university canceled events connected to the annual Spring Fling celebrations. Police said with a gunman on the loose large gatherings are not a good idea.

New York University spokesman John Beckman confirmed a connection between the university and both Morgan and Justin-Jinich. According to University records, Morgan and Justin-Jinich were enrolled in a 2007 Summer program. Justin-Jinich filed a complaint against Morgan, but later refused to pursue the matter legally.

Justin-Jinich filed a harassment complaint against Stephen Morgan on July 10, 2007, claiming that he was calling her repeatedly and sent her insulting emails for at least a week.

In one e-mail, Morgan allegedly said Justin-Jinich was "going to have a lot more problems down the road."

Morgan had apparently already left the city at the time the complaint was filed and was not arrested.

The statement from Beckman reads as follows:

"On Wednesday evening, the University's Public Safety Department received a call from investigators in Connecticut asking whether Johanna Justin-Jinich – the Wesleyan student shot yesterday – or her suspected killer, Stephan Morgan, had been at NYU, and whether Ms. Justin-Jinich had filed any complaints.

"A check of our records indicates that both had been enrolled in the same six-week summer-session course in 2007. Both were also residents in student housing during this period, but not in the same residence hall.

"Our records also indicate she filed a harassment complaint with the University's Public Safety Department around the time of the end of the course, indicating that she had been receiving harassing emails and phone calls from Mr. Morgan. The Public Safety Department brought in the NYPD, and initial conversations were conducted with each person by the police. Ultimately, after attempts to follow-up with Ms. Justin-Jinich about pursuing the matter, she declined to pursue the case."

Wesleyan has 3,000 students and was founded in 1831.

CBS 2's Dave Carlin contributed to this report.



 

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

• Go! New York For A Healthy Lifestyle
• Got Wit? Play CBS 2's Caption Game!
• 20 Questions
• Celebrities On Twitter
• Celebrity Real Names Revealed
• When It Was Out To Be Out
• Hilarious Movie Blunders
• World's Coolest Fighter Jets