PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University President Elson Floyd has donated $10,000 to the reward fund to help catch whoever assaulted a faculty member near campus.
David Warner remains in critical condition at a Spokane hospital. Police said he was beaten about 2 a.m. on March 30 while intervening in a fight between an acquaintance and a group of college-age people in the parking lot of Adams Mall on College Hill.
“I strongly encourage anyone who knows anything about what happened that night or recognizes any of the individuals in the videos that have been publicly distributed to come forward,” Floyd said in a statement.
Pullman Police Lt. Chris Tennant said Wednesday that witnesses have been slow to provide information to police. Surveillance video showed up to 15 people in the area of the fight, but only about half have come forward, Tennant said.
“Leads are coming in, but not as rapidly as we would like,” he said.
The incident occurred outside a bar located near campus, he said. Warner was walking with an acquaintance who exchanged words with a group of young people. Warner stepped between them and was struck, police have said.
Warner, 41, is Native American and teaches in the WSU Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies. Police have said there’s no indication race was a factor in the beating.
