Niche College Scholarship

Scholarships.com Blog

search

Professor's Homicide Temporarily Shuts Down University in Mississippi

Professor's Homicide Temporarily Shuts Down University in Mississippi
9/15/2015
|
Susan Dutca-Lovell

Found on Delta State University's school website is a picture of fellow professors Ethan Schmidt and Shannon side by side, smiling at a 2013 holiday party. That same year, Schmidt mentioned Lamb in the acknowledgements of his book "Native Americans in the American Revolution." Now, both professors are dead after Dr. Schmidt was shot in his office at Delta State Monday morning and suspect Lamb died from a self-inflicted wound while evading police, stating he's "not going to jail." Lamb was also a suspect in the earlier homicide of his domestic partner Amy Prentiss, at their home roughly 300 miles south of Delta State. Cleveland Police Chief Charles Bingham claims there is no known motive at the time being - Lamb allegedly believed Prentiss was romantically involved with Schmidt but there is no current evidence of a love triangle.

The manhunt for Lamb continued throughout the day Monday and ended when police had spotted Lamb exiting his vehicle and fleeing into the woods. After hearing a single gunshot ring, police found Lamb's body with a gunshot wound to the head. Up until this time, Delta University and all local schools were sent into lockdown, urging students and faculty members to remain indoors and away from windows.

Lamb received his doctorate in education from Delta State University in 2015 and had worked at the university since 2009, teaching geography and education courses. Schmidt received his doctorate from the University of Kansas in Colonial America and Indigenous people and specialized in American history. According to the university's president, Schmidt was a "star" of the faculty. Schmidt is lauded for being one of the "brightest students" at his alma mater, Emporia State, and was "on the road to being one of the great scholars of American history."

The campus lockdown was lifted late Monday, and Tuesday classes were cancelled in order to hold a vigil in honor of the staff member's death.

Related
We make it simple and match you to college scholarships you qualify for.