FVSU student fatally stabbed after coming to the aid of young women, GBI agent says

Donnell Phelps, a Fort Valley State University freshman, stepped in to help three young women Tuesday and was fatally stabbed by the man who was harassing them, the GBI said Wednesday.

Joseph Anthony Scott, 24, a former FVSU student who lives near the campus, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, said J.T. Ricketson, special agent in charge of the GBI office in Perry.

“(Phelps) was coming to the aid of these young girls,” Ricketson said. “He stepped in to try and protect these girls, and this guy assaulted him.”

An autopsy showed that Phelps was stabbed four times in the upper torso with a pocket knife that had a 3 1/2-inch blade, Ricketson said.

Scott also stabbed Ernest Johnson of Macon, a campus public safety officer, seven times in a related attack, Ricketson said.

Although his injuries are serious, Johnson, who is hospitalized at the Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon, is expected to recover, Ricketson said.

“Words cannot describe the pain that we all feel in the Fort Valley State community,” university President Paul Jones said at news conference.

He offered condolences to Phelps’ family, friends, students and the entire community.

“We as a university will continue to come together and support each other as we always do during these difficult times, because we indeed are resilient,” Jones said.

Phelps, who was 19 and from Marshallville, was studying agricultural engineering technology. A recent Macon County High School graduate, Phelps also managed the university’s tennis team, FVSU spokeswoman Pamela Berry-Johnson said. His freshman class is planning a candlelight vigil and balloon release Thursday night on campus.

The killing happened late Tuesday afternoon at a time when students are preparing for final exams.

Campus police Chief Ken Morgan said university police, as well as Peach County 911, started receiving calls about a stabbing about 5:30 p.m.

Ricketson said authorities have determined that Scott arrived on campus about 5 p.m. and made his way to the university’s cafeteria.

Scott attempted to “grope” the women as they were coming out of the cafeteria, Ricketson said. When Phelps came to their aid, a struggle ensued and he was stabbed. Authorities do not believe Phelps and Scott knew each other.

Phelps, realizing he’d been seriously hurt, yelled for help and ran toward the campus infirmary, where he collapsed outside, Ricketson said.

Initial reports indicated Phelps died at the Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon. But while the ambulance was on the way to the university, Phelps’ vital signs began to drop and he was taken instead to the Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health, where he died, Ricketson said.

By that time, Scott had left the initial crime scene. On his way out of the main campus gate, he stopped and knocked on the window of a small guard station where Johnson was stationed, Ricketson said. Johnson did not yet know that a student had been stabbed.

“As soon as he opened the door, Scott immediately started assaulting him,” Ricketson said.

Donovan Coley, FVSU’s intern coordinator, is credited with rendering aid to Johnson. Arriving campus officers quickly arrived to subdue Scott and take him into custody.

“As soon as all this happened, within just minutes, the campus police responded,” Ricketson said. “They locked down this university and secured the crime scene. That was critical for us, so we could go back and work this scene.”

Scott was taken to the Peach County jail. On the way, he kicked out a window of a campus police vehicle, Ricketson said. Others charges against Scott may be brought before a Peach County grand jury for consideration.

“We believe there’s a number of students who may have witnessed this incident that have not come forward and have not been interviewed, and we would like to talk with them,” Ricketson said. He asked anyone with information to call the GBI at 478-987-4545.

Scott’s address that’s listed on his arrest report is an apartment at University Villa Apartments, 820 State University Drive, less than a mile from campus. Several people at the complex said they do not know him, but some said they had seen him before.

Eraneshia Johnson, a freshman studying psychology who knew Phelps, said she was leaving FVSU’s cafeteria when she saw blood on the ground. She was told someone had been stabbed.

“I had just seen him the day before,” Johnson said. “I threw my friend a surprise party in the dorm, and he came.”

Johnson described Phelps as a selfless person.

“He always gave us hugs, and he’d always check up on us,” she said.

Student Brian Ashley, who had a computer class with Phelps, said Phelps “was stepping in the gap for someone.”

“He was a pretty cool guy. He did his work. He came to class, paid attention and he participated,” Ashley said. “I never seen him with a frown on his face. He was always smiling, always in a good mood.”

Joshua Anderson, 24, of Warner Robins, knew Phelps from social gatherings. Anderson was visiting his brother Wednesday afternoon at a Fort Valley apartment in the same complex where Scott lives.

“He was a tremendous athlete,” Anderson said of Phelps. “He played tennis. He had a great personality. He had a great sense of humor. ... He was basically the coolest guy you’ll ever meet.”

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 10:47 AM with the headline "FVSU student fatally stabbed after coming to the aid of young women, GBI agent says."