At approximately 9:30 Tuesday morning, a top-level administrator at Metropolitan Community College’s Penn Valley campus was attacked by a man with a knife.
The victim, Dr. Albert Dimmitt, Jr., MCC-Penn Valley dean of instruction, was stabbed once in the neck and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. After undergoing surgery Tuesday morning, Dimmitt is listed in stable condition.
The assailant, described as a man in his 20s, was immediately restrained and then taken into custody by Kansas City, Missouri Police. The motive for the stabbing is unknown at this time.
Dimmitt, who has worked at MCC for over 20 years, has been a dean at the college since 2002. Previously, he was an instructor in the allied health department. He is a well-respected member of the college’s administration and an active civic leader, serving on the boards of Don Bosco Centers, Alta Vista Board of Education, and Guadalupe Centers, among others.
The incident occurred as the campus was preparing for a press conference where Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was scheduled to make an announcement. The governor was not on location when the stabbing occurred and the press conference was immediately canceled.
Safety of our employees and students is a top priority for Metropolitan Community College. With the immediate apprehension of the suspect, there is no known danger at any MCC facility at this time. Counseling services have been arranged for students and employees affected by the incident. Classes at the college have not been canceled and will go on as scheduled.
District administrators are cooperating with the Kansas City Police Department in their investigation. Our sincere thoughts are with Dr. Dimmitt and his family and we are encouraged by the reports of his improving condition.
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i do not appreciate hearing on the news about the stabbing, checking all 3 of my student accounts for announcements, which is also ridiculous, with no announcements. i got a text saying all classes resume as normal. for people who do not know to look for an incidence how is this keeping your students informed and safe! yes the guy was detained immediately, but i feel wronged!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input, Brigitt. We appreciate your and other students' feedback about the communication regarding this incident. We did enact several forms of communication with students, in addition to the broad communication we provided to employees, though we have heard and understand the concerns of those who feel the timing and content of that communication did not suit their needs. Please know that this and all other feedback that is sent to my office and Chancellor James' office will be taken into consideration as we conduct a very thorough and careful review of our crisis response processes.
ReplyDeleteThank you, again, for your input, as well as the feedback you emailed to Chancellor James' office today. We do take seriously students' concerns about their personal safety and will continue to work towards streamlining our processes to be sure that matters of public safety are communicated appropriately and in a timely manner.
Tom Vansaghi
MCC Associate Vice Chancellor of College and Community Relations