Sunday morning shooting at Bradley leaves one injured 

On Sunday, Bradley University Police responded to a shooting on the third floor of Geisert Hall on Bradley’s campus. 

The Bradley University Police, in conjunction with the Peoria Police Department, investigated and tracked down a vehicle with four people inside. The car was en route to a hospital. The victim, an 18-year-old female who is not a Bradley student, was found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was transported to a local hospital, where she is now in stable condition, according to police. 

The other individuals involved in the incident were transported to the Peoria Police Department Criminal Investigations Division for interview purposes, and two were later released from custody. 

The alleged shooter, Edward A. Traywcik Jr, is also not a Bradley student. He is a 19-year-old male from Lansing, IL and was arrested for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, No FOID, Possession of a Firearm Under 21 and Reckless Discharge. He was transported to the Peoria County Jail. 

Upon receiving news of the event, Bradley University located the crime scene in a dorm and secured the building to ensure all students were safe. The situation has been deemed an accident and there is reportedly no imminent threat to the campus. 

Early Sunday morning, Bradley University President James Shadid issued a message via email to the Bradley community.  

“Guns are not permitted on Bradley University’s campus, and we take any violation of this policy with the utmost seriousness,” Shadid wrote. “The individual responsible is in custody, and the appropriate legal and university consequences will follow. There is no ongoing threat to our campus community.

“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Bradley University Police Department, the Peoria Police Department, and the Illinois State Police for their swift and professional response,” Shadid continued. “Their immediate coordination ensured that the situation was contained quickly and that our community remained safe.”

Students will be allowed to speak to University leadership, the Bradley University Police Department, and campus support staff about the incident at a forum on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.