这年头连教授都开枪杀人啦：3 dead, 2 hurt in Ga. shooting; professor sought

金牛银熊

By HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writer Harry R. Weber, Associated Press Writer – 48 mins ago
ATHENS, Ga. – Three people were killed Saturday at a community theater near the University of Georgia, and authorities were searching for a marketing professor in the shooting deaths.

Police were called to the Athens Community Theater less than a mile from campus about 12:25 p.m. and found three people shot to death outside, according to Athens-Clarke County Police Capt. Clarence Holeman. Two others were hit by shrapnel, and their conditions were not immediately known, Holeman said.

Police were looking for George Zinkhan, 57, who has been a professor at the school in Athens, which is about 70 miles east of Atlanta, since the 1990s.

The shooting happened as local actors were gathered at the theater in advance of an evening performance. Holeman said there was some sort of discussion, possibly a disagreement, between the shooter and one of the victims when the shooting took place. Holeman said a motive wasn't immediately known.

Two different guns were involved in the shooting and investigators were executing a search warrant at Zinkhan's house, Holeman said.

Authorities had issued a nationwide alert for Zinkhan and his 2005 red Jeep Liberty with Georgia license plate AIX1376.

"Anyone who shoots three people is dangerous, that's the best way I can put it," Holeman said.

Authorities declined to release the names of the victims, and it was not immediately clear if any students or faculty were among the dead.

"We do know that he was associated in some manner with at least one of the victims," Athens-Clarke County Police Maj. Mike Shockley said.

Zinkhan worked as a professor in the Terry College of Business, university spokesman Pete Konenkamp said. He didn't have any disciplinary problems.

"His track record is impeccable as far as his teaching credentials," Konenkamp said. "He's a respected professor on campus."

The university issued an alert as a precaution.

In a statement, university President Michael F. Adams said the university community was shocked and saddened.

"Our first thoughts are for safety of the university community and for prompt apprehension of the person responsible," Adams said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who have been affected."

Before joining the faculty at the University of Georgia, Zinkhan held academic positions at the universities of Houston and Pittsburgh. He has a doctorate from the University of Michigan and graduated from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in 1974.

Tom Reichert, a professor at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, knew Zinkhan from around the campus.

"This is a total shock," Reichert said. "I wouldn't say he was particularly vivacious or particularly quiet. He was right down the middle."

Reichert said he talked with Zinkhan once in the university gym locker room and Zinkhan said he had five children, three of them older and two young children.

___

Associated Press writers Shannon McCaffrey, Walter Putnam and Daniel Yee in Atlanta contributed to this report.