Page 43 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

About NLI • Contact • Advertise

University employee accused of punching student

By: Andy Marquis
Staff Reporter
Published: 07/13/2004, 20:51:30
Last Updated: 07/14/2004, 19:04:46
MUNCIE, Ind. (NLI) - There is reaction on the Ball
State campus after formal charges were filed
Tuesday against a university employee allegedly
involved in a road rage incident with a student.
According to the police report, on June 24, BSU
employee Thomas Donovan rear-ended Ball
State student Kyra Moore at the intersection of
Bethel Avenue and Clara Lane near McGalliard
Road.
Detective Nathan Sloan of Muncie Police said
things escalated from there.
"The way I understand it, it was a slight rear end,
and then the road rage ensued from there," ¥ Thomas Donovan's mug shot from his
arrest, days after a June 24 confrontation
Sloan said.
with Ball State student Kyra Moore. (From
Delaware County Sheriff)
Four witnesses and Moore said that Moore then
MULTIMEDIA
got out of her car to exchange insurance and
Video: An extended edit of NewsLink's
license information. Donovan did not wish to interview with Muncie Police Detective
report the incident to police. Moore proceeded to Nathan Sloan. (NLI)
get his license plate number. Video: An extended edit of NewsLink's
interview with Ball State student Kyra Moore.
(NLI/Andy Marquis)
Donovan told police that Moore physically
RELATED SITES
abused him. But all of the witnesses and Moore
say that Donovan tried to use Moore's keys to Ball State University
move her car himself. Muncie Police Department
TOOLS
When she tried to stop him, he got out of the car
with her keys. As she tried to get them back, E-mail This Story
Donovan punched her in the eye.
Printer Friendly
Again according to witnesses and Moore,
Donovan moved back toward his car. Moore called 911 at this point while still trying to get
her keys back. Witnesses said that Donovan tried to wrestle the phone away from Moore to
prevent the call but did not gain possession of it.
"I had it (the cell phone) gripped in my hands and he couldn't get it away and that's when he
hit me the second time in the same spot on my right cheekbone," Moore said. "By that time, I
just stepped back on the concrete median and let him take my car keys."
In Moore's account, she then watched as Donovan took off in his car -- still in possession of
her keys.
Police said Donovan was arrested on the Ball State campus several days later by a Muncie
Police officer, with a BSU Police officer assisting. He made bail after several hours and has
returned to work.
Donovan is employed as a programmer/analyst in the Office of the Vice President of Student
Affairs and Enrollment Management. He faces two Class D felonies for theft and obstruction
of justice and two Class A misdemeanors for battery and interference with reporting a crime.
Ball State's Vice President of Student Affairs Douglas McConkey said he would "have to let
the local system determine the facts, and then take action when that is appropriate."
Figure 2.3 The arrest of Thomas Donovan provided an opportunity for a reporter to work across several media platforms.
Andrew Marquis wrote print, broadcast, and online stories that detailed an incident in which a university employee
assaulted a student after a traffic accident.