Accused gunman's classmates return to campus
Story Created: Jan 17, 2012 at 6:29 PM America/New_York

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COLLIER COUNTY,Fla.- Classmates of an alleged gunman returned to campus Tuesday.  A student at the Ave Maria School of Law is behind bars on aggravated battery and attempted murder charges.

Collier County deputies say the incident was triggered by a fit of rage, heightened by alcohol.

According to arrest reports, Robert Ringley, 25 was jailed Friday after he forced his roommate, Christopher Graves, and ex-girlfriend, Samantha Morris, to kneel execution-style while he held them at gunpoint.

The incident happened outside of Ringley's apartment on Heritage Bay Boulevard.

Deputies say Ringley fired several rounds into the air before shooting a bullet right past his roommates head.

"It's really kind of a tight-knit community, so something like this it definitely came out of left field," first year law student Michael Strudwick said.

WINK News has learned the incident was addressed in at least one classroom Tuesday and amongst student body leaders.

"It's a tough time for everybody.  It's certainly not something that's expected," Vice President of the student bar association, William Sullivan said.

Safety and the school's sparkling reputation are all concerns as third year law school student Robert Ringley remains incarcerated on $1 million bond.

"I hope that we don't get a national reputation that's negative from all of this.  You know, looking at the school that way.  Most of us are just really studious individuals, so we barely head out to the bar on the weekends, so this is kind of a big shocker," first year law school student Matt Dallmann said.

School administrators have suspended Ringley.  Should he be released from jail, he will not be allowed back on campus.

His alleged victims are being advised to take the time they need to heal before returning to class.

"Their needs are our foremost priority right now.  Our main imperative is to make sure those 2 individuals can recover quickly and get back to normal life as soon as possible," spokesman John Knowles said.


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