UAMS pharmacy student shot outside Arkansas Department of Health office building, police say

Little Rock police investigate a shooting at a Department of Health building at 4815 W. Markham St. on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Little Rock police investigate a shooting at a Department of Health building at 4815 W. Markham St. on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.

A 33-year-old UAMS College of Pharmacy student was shot shortly before noon Monday in the parking lot of the Arkansas Department of Health's main office building in Little Rock, police say.

The Little Rock Police Department responded to the shooting at 11:58 a.m. outside the building at 4815 W. Markham St.

On the parking lot's southwest side, responding officers spoke with the victim, Caleb McClain, who said he was unsure of what happened.

A witness turned around after hearing the first shot to find someone wielding what appeared to be a large pistol out the driver's side of a gray car, he told authorities.

The shooter, who had long dreads, appeared to be aiming at a group of black females walking across the parking lot, the witness added.

The lot was full of parked cars at the time of the shooting.

Police said the group ran away after shots were fired and fled the parking lot in what was believed to be a tan SUV.

McClain was shot in the upper left shoulder and taken to a local hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening, according to authorities.

UAMS Chancellor Dr. Dan Rahn said he visited with McClain and his family at the hospital.

"My heart goes out to them and I wish him a speedy recovery," Rahn said in a statement. "I hope you will also keep them in your thoughts and prayers."

Rahn said UAMS would also enhance security at War Memorial Stadium and other areas near the campus.

There is not a lot of foot traffic from the general public in the area, Department of Health spokesman Meg Mirivel said, and most of the people who walk across the parking lot are medical school students.

A woman was taken to the 12th Street substation for questioning in the shooting after her vehicle was located and linked to the shooting, police said. Her name did not appear in jail records as of Monday afternoon.

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