Prominent Artist Dies After Being Stabbed in Random Attack on La. Tech. Univ. Campus that Injured 3 Others

Annie Weinstein Richardson was attacked while leaving an exercise lesson

A prominent Louisiana artist died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a stabbing spree on the Louisiana Tech university campus the day before, according to reports. 

Annie Weinstein Richardson was among four stabbed on Monday morning’s stabbing spree, which was allegedly carried out by Jacoby Johnson, who police have identified as a suspect, Louisiana Tech University confirmed.

Johnson, 23, was a senior student at the university and has since been charged with second-degree murder in addition to the four counts of attempted murder charges he initially faced, the university said.

Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers alleged that Johnson used a folding knife with a blade about four inches long, according to the Associated Press.

“This appears to be a random act of violence,” the university said in a statement on Monday, adding that one victim was a graduate student and the others were non-students. The graduate student was airlifted to Shreveport, La.

The Ruston Daily Leader identified the other victims as Judge Cynthia Woodard, retired teacher Debby Hollimon and graduate student Dominique McKane.

Richardson and Woodward were attacked as they left a senior exercise class when Johnson allegedly snuck up on them from behind, according to the news outlet.

McKane was attacked in a parking lot and Hollimon was attacked as she tried to intervene, the outlet reported. Hollimon suffered a cut on her face as a result.

Louisiana Tech Police Chief Randal Hermes told the outlet that Johnson seemingly allegedly suffers from mental illness. Rogers said the police had a brief interaction with Johnson the week before, but it was not regarding any criminal activity.

“We went and checked him out, and he was fine at that time,” Rogers said, according to the Ruston Daily Leader.

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“Our Tech family will feel the pain of this incident for some time,” university President Les Guice said in a statement, “but we are fortunate to have such a caring community to rely upon as we grieve together.”

“Rest in peace sweet friend. You were a beautiful light in our lives,” Tish Miller Design shared in a post on Instagram after Richardson's death.

A vigil was held on Tuesday night for Richardson, according to KTBS. A blood drive has been scheduled for Thursday in honor of the other victims, the university announced.

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