An Eastern student and another suspect were arrested Friday for their involvement in a residential shooting off campus that was reportedly related to an on-campus event.

People involved in a fight that reportedly broke out during the First Annual Johnetta Jones Memorial Homecoming Step Show were linked to the shooting.

Friday night’s Black Student Union after-party in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union was postponed to Saturday night because of the fight. Organizers of the after-party increased security by limiting entrances, checking identification and scanning those in attendance with metal detectors. The after-party was incident free.

Mark D. Griffin, Chicago, and Crystal P. Lovemore, an undeclared undergraduate, 1151 Johnson Ave., were arrested Friday night at Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street near Dominoe’s Pizza. Both suspects were arrested on the charge of illegal discharge of a firearm, according to a Charleston Police Department press release.

“What I heard was these people shot at a house and then the police caught them here,” said a witness, a Dominoe’s employee, who wished to remain anonymous.

Police apprehended the suspects after receiving reports of shots fired at a residence in the 1500 block of 12th Street, the press release stated.

Students reported the two were involved in an altercation at Eastern’s step show earlier that night.

“I was watching the show, then a few people started yelling and pushing,” said sophomore elementary education major Maria Santoyo, human potential coordinator for the University Board. “Then there was a group of people pushing and more people got into the fight.

“It was settled down pretty quickly and people returned to their seats,” Santoyo said.

A junior English major, who also wanted to remain anonymous, who attended the show said Griffin and Lovemore were involved in a fight with a resident of the 12th street home.

“They started fighting, friends jumped in and then the girl and her boyfriend ran out,” the witness said. “The other people tried to follow them, but the people at the door wouldn’t let them leave right away.”

The two left the show following the conflict, but before the 12th street residents returned home, the witness said. When the residents arrived they found at least eight shots had been fired into the home.

No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire. The incident is under investigation by the Charleston Police, Illinois State Police and the Coles County State’s Attorney.

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].