Students, staff still coping after Batalia murder
Posted Oct 2, 2011 07:38:57 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – It’s been four days since 19-year-old Maple Batalia was shot to death in the Central City parkade at SFU’s Surrey campus. The school’s Don MacLachlan says it’s been a tough week for staff and students.
“A campus that is normally very lively and full of laughter was instead very quiet and subdued,” he tells News1130. “There are still a lot of very upset people who cannot believe this has happened.”
MacLachlan says those who knew Batalia are still shaking their heads in disbelief.
“It’s so sad that such a young person, from all accounts very bright and really intelligent with such a bright future ahead of her, is just gunned down in a parking lot. It’s hard to believe and impossible to accept.”
He calls this a horrible first for them and says the ultimate hope is that it never happens again.
MacLachlan adds some students are still concerned about their safety as the school reviews its security measures. “But most of them, as you would hope, are simply expressing their sympathy and offering tributes to the student who was shot.”
Batalia was killed early Wednesday morning while she got into her car. No arrests have been made, however police say they’ve spoken with several persons of interest.
Her family claims a jilted lover is to blame for her murder.
