The family of a freshman who was fatally shot at Edward Waters College the day after he wrote an essay criticizing campus safety has settled its lawsuit against the school, attorneys said.
The $2.75 million wrongful death settlement, reached last month, also requires the college to award an annual scholarship in honor of Johnathan Wesley Glenn, 18, The Florida Times-Union reported on its Web site Friday.
Two men approached Glenn in 2004 and demanded his sports jersey, his cell phone and his wallet while he stood outside his dorm, authorities said. The previous day, Glenn had handed in an essay saying he felt unsafe on campus.
In its lawsuit, the family claimed that the college had inadequate security and misrepresented the safety of the campus.
‘It brings some sense of relief’
Relatives said they were most comforted knowing the campus is safer now than it was when their family member was killed.
"It brings some sense of relief that this is over and these issues have been brought to the schools attention," Jay Cohen, the family's attorney, told the newspaper.
The school is glad to put the situation behind it, said Michael Freed, its attorney.
"The college was more than happy to pay tribute to Johnathan through a scholarship and looks forward for more positive things to come," Freed said.
Kenell Dashawn Coleman is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. Jermell Maurice Campbell testified against Coleman and pleaded guilty to armed robbery. He is serving eight years in prison.
Edward Waters College is a private, historically black liberal arts college near downtown Jacksonville with an enrollment of about 800.