The Triangle

Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News

A jacket worn by a suspect wanted in the murder of a Rowan student (left). The suspect captured on a security camera (right).

Rowan University Police issued the above composite sketch of the murder suspect.

Drexel University Public Safety has been asked to assist Rowan University investigators in the search for a suspect who allegedly robbed and beat 19-year-old Rowan sophomore Donald Farrell to death during Rowan's homecoming weekend Oct. 27.

Police are reaching out to surrounding schools for information about the suspect's identity.

"There were a couple of things going on at the Rowan campus that could have drawn people from outside the campus," Bernie Weisenfeld, spokesman for the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, said.

Drexel was contacted because a group of students were participating in a step dance competition the weekend of the murder, Weisenfeld said.

"There is no reason to believe the suspect is anywhere in the University City area," James Katsaounis, executive director of communications for the division of Student Life and Administrative Services, said.

No Drexel students were threatened by this crime and investigators have not spoken with any students, according to Katsaounis.

He stressed that no there is no cause for alarm at Drexel and that authorities are contacting numerous local schools.

Katsaounis said Drexel Public Safety officers will post fliers with the suspect's description in residence halls and around the Drexel campus. Other Philadelphia area schools, including Temple and LaSalle, also received the flier and were asked to distribute the suspect's information to students who participated in events at Rowan.

New Jersey officials have launched an extensive effort to get the word out about the suspect, including posting a video of the alleged attacker on YouTube and offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer, according to a flier sent to Drexel officials.

The suspect is described as a 20 to 24-year-old black male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a medium complexion, rounded face, braided hair and a slight goatee, according the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators have also described the suspect as wearing a red hoodie with the words "Coogi Heritage" printed on the back.

Anyone with information about the case should contact the Rowan University Police Department at (856) 256-4922 or the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit at (856) 307-7180. All calls will be kept confidential.

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