Campus Alert Archive
Wright State

Phone Charger Argument Ends in Gunfire Inside Cedar Hall Dorm Room

OHshootingemergency notificationhigh confidence
Confirmed Threat

On the evening of January 22, 2024, a shot was fired inside Cedar Hall, a residence hall on Wright State University's Dayton campus, after an argument over a missing phone charger escalated between a student and a non-student visitor. No one was injured and one person was taken into custody.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Wright State University
Public R2 · OH
~10,000 studentsWright State Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTPush
Verified verbatim@WrightStAlert official X account (quoted verbatim in multiple news reports including Dayton Daily News and WDTN)266 chars
Wright State Alert-Dayton Wright State police are responding to a shooting incident at Cedar Hall on the Dayton Campus. This is NOT an active shooter situation and there is no threat to campus. Avoid the area near (building). More info will be shared when available.
Quoted verbatim from @WrightStAlert X post about the Cedar Hall incident on the evening of January 22, 2024
The alert's explicit 'NOT an active shooter situation' framing was notable and reported by multiple outlets
The '(building)' placeholder in the original alert reflects the alert system's template formatting
ALL CLEARPush
Verified verbatim@WrightStAlert official X account (quoted verbatim in multiple news reports including Dayton Daily News and WHIO)244 chars
Wright State Alert-Dayton Wright State police have given the ALL CLEAR after responding to a situation at Cedar Hall. Police are investigating a shooting incident that did not result in any injuries and have one suspect in custody at this time.
Quoted verbatim from @WrightStAlert X post; the all-clear was given at approximately 7:20 PM EST on January 22, 2024
The suspect was apprehended quickly, and the all-clear came roughly 20 minutes after the initial report
Counseling and wellness services were made available for walk-in services starting at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, January 23
Context

Background

On the evening of January 22, 2024, Wright State University Police responded to reports of a gunshot inside Cedar Hall, a residence hall on the university's Dayton campus. The suspect, 21-year-old Darryl Patterson, was visiting a student in her dorm room when an argument erupted over missing property described as a phone charger. According to police, when the student went to leave the room, Patterson fired a single shot toward her, but no one was struck. Police quickly took Patterson into custody and gave the all-clear at approximately 7:20 PM EST. Patterson was not a student and was charged with felonious assault and trespassing. He was also trespassed from the campus. The Wright State Guardian student newspaper reported that eyewitnesses expressed fear after the incident and raised concerns about housing safety. The university made counseling and wellness services available for walk-in appointments beginning the following morning.
Analysis

Key Findings

A non-student visitor fired a shot inside a dorm room during an argument over a phone charger; no one was injured
The suspect was arrested within approximately 20 minutes and charged with felonious assault and trespassing
The incident raised student concerns about residential security and guest access policies
Outcome
The suspect, 21-year-old Darryl Patterson, was arrested and charged with felonious assault and trespassing. He was not a student and was trespassed from campus. No injuries were reported. Counseling services were made available for walk-in appointments the following morning.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Social
    @WrightStAlert official X/Twitter — Wright State Alert posts for January 22, 2024 Cedar Hall shooting
    x.com
  2. News
    1 arrested after shot fired at Wright State University (WHIO)
    whio.com
  3. News
    Police give 'all clear' after shot fired in Wright State dorm (Dayton Daily News)
    daytondailynews.com
  4. Student Paper
    Eyewitnesses Express Fear After Cedar Hall Incident (Wright State Guardian)
    wsuguardian.com
  5. Student Paper
    SGA: Cedar Hall Shooting Incident (Wright State Guardian)
    wsuguardian.com
Tags
shootingresidence-hallnon-student-suspectohiono-injuriesquick-resolutiondorm-safety
Added May 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion