College professor faces charges after shooting 18-year-old girl in parking lot, police say| Today Headlines

Carrolton police say a professor at the University of Western Georgia is facing murder charges in connection with the death of an 18-year-old student on Saturday morning.

Police said at 12:27 a.m. they were called to Tanner Medical Center about a person with a gunshot wound.

Callers said the shooting happened off Adamson Square in the courthouse parking lot.

Police say Richard Sigman, a professor at the University of West Georgia, had a verbal altercation with another man at Leopoldo’s home. The man told security that Sigman had threatened to shoot him.

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When security approached Sigman, they saw a gun and told him to leave. Sigman left, walked to the parking lot, and began shooting at a parked vehicle. It was then that the victim, Anna Jones, was hit by a bullet.

Her friends took her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The university fired Sigman and released a statement Saturday afternoon.

“The University of West Georgia has learned of the loss of one of its students, Anna Jones, who died in an off-campus incident earlier today. UWG has terminated the employment of Richard Sigman and continues to work with the City of Carrollton Police Department, who are leading this ongoing investigation. On behalf of the university, we want to send our deepest condolences to Anna’s family and her many friends,” said the UWG President Dr. Brendan Kelly “We know this news is difficult to process and affects many members of our University community. We ask that you keep Anna’s family, friends, and all those who have been touched by this tragedy in your thoughts during this extremely difficult time.

Caitlyn Glosson is a nursing student at Western Georgia University, she said she couldn’t believe what happened.

“I was shocked,” Glosson said. “I didn’t think a professor from West Georgia would do that.”

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Police said Sigman was charged with murder, three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.

The university said it was working with police in the ongoing investigation.

Police said the suspect’s injury shown in the photo was not from police. He had the wound when he was located.

Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the Carrollton Police Department at 770-834-4451.

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