Suspect in fatal off-campus shooting is a Drexel alumnus | The Triangle

Suspect in fatal off-campus shooting is a Drexel alumnus

A former Drexel University student and Business Manager for The Triangle shot and killed a man near the 3500 block of Lancaster Avenue the night of Nov. 28, 6ABC reports.

The shooter was identified as Joe Howanski and taken into custody immediately after the accident. According to 6ABC, a man and his girlfriend were engaged in a verbal argument on 35 and Lancaster when Howanski intervened, at first without shooting. He then shot the man three times in the chest, fatally wounding him. The girlfriend is reportedly a current Drexel student. The victim, Merlos Mukaj, attended Gloucester County Community College and was 21 years old.

6ABC reports that Howanski has been charged with murder and related offenses.

“Drexel University Police arrived immediately on the scene, secured the weapon and detained the alleged shooter, who fully cooperated with police,” Drexel President John A. Fry said in a university-wide email Nov. 29.

A DrexelAlert was not issued following the incident. In his email, Fry said that this was because “there was no immediate or ongoing threat” following the shooter’s arrest.

“I am deeply saddened by this incident. But I want to reassure everyone that safety is always our top priority. We take many steps to ensure our campus remains safe,” Fry continued in his email.

Those affected by the incident can contact the Drexel Counseling Center at  215-895-1415.