Two New York University graduate students were fatally shot during a trip to Puerto Rico with classmates over the weekend after being caught in the middle of a shootout outside a San Juan bar.
The shooting took place at 3:50 am on Loíza Street on Saturday and left innocent bystanders Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, dead at the hands of a now-detained female suspect.
The San Juan Police Department had been searching for the yet-to-be-identified woman, who in footage filmed by a bystander, raises a gun just before she fired the fatal shots – after an argument with the club’s security guard, police said .
Police asked for the public’s help in identifying the shooter at a press conference later in the day and gave the names and nationalities of the two deceased.
Both were Peruvians but earned MBAs from Big Apple University’s Stern School of Business. NYU released a heartfelt statement mourning the young men, who classmates said had gone on vacation after completing final exams.
Scroll down for the video:
Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, were fatally shot by a woman outside a club in San Juan on Saturday – police officers later said the MBA students were caught in the crossfire of an unrelated dispute involving the woman and the Bar bouncers were involved
The San Juan Police Department had been searching for the unidentified woman, seen here in blue in video filmed by a bystander just before she fired a hail of bullets
“They were kind hearted people and unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” classmate Nick Mica told ABC7 on Monday, as San Juan police reported the suspect had been arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday
Fellow student Connie Luc added: “They were spectators and unfortunately this tragic event happened to them.
“They didn’t want it, they didn’t see it – they just finished the final and went on holiday.”
NYU, meanwhile, responded to the deaths by canceling all social events for MBA candidates until further notice and issuing a statement of its own.
“NYU mourns today with the families, loved ones and friends of these students whose lives ended tragically, suddenly and far too soon,” the school said, writing that staff were “heartbroken and shocked” by the incident. be.
“The university has contacted the remaining group members to offer them support and assistance,” the statement continued, before adding that none of the others present were injured.
“NYU has also reached out to the families of the murdered students to provide any assistance possible and to express the sympathy of the university community,” the school said.
“In addition, our counseling service will provide resources to the students of the MBA program, the Stern School community, and especially the close colleagues and friends of the murdered students.”
Classmates from the university’s prestigious business school have since set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for victims’ families back home in Peru.
The woman seen in the footage has yet to be named, although she was arrested on Tuesday
“They were kind hearted people and unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” classmate Nick Mica told ABC7 on Monday, as San Juan police reported the suspect had been arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday
Classmates added that the two were celebrating their fellow students’ birthdays when they were gunned down. The nightclub – seen here – is called Emoji and is located on Loíza Street
Within two days, the site has already raised $44,100 – more than half of the end goal of $80,000.
The description for the page created by Stern Student Government reads: “The Stern community is devastated by the loss [of] our dear classmates, Franco and Sergio.
“You were such rays of light in our community, bringing constant laughter, smiles and joy to all of us,” she added.
“We express our deepest sympathy for their families and want to help them where we can.”
Classmates added that the two were celebrating their fellow students’ birthdays when they were gunned down. The store was Emoji on Loíza Street.
Mica added how the deaths of his friends could affect him and others while for many this is the final phase of classes.
“Losing someone is tough, but especially your classmates in a time frame when you have to focus on schoolwork, it’s difficult to keep your mind in the right place.”
The suspect has yet to be named.