Three Waynesburg University students will face preliminary court hearing on Sept. 25, pertaining to an incident that occurred in Martin Hall on Sunday, Sept. 8.

Ja Shawn Jordan Wyckoff, Omari Lateef Scott and Deon Keith Windham have all been formally charged for the assault of a Waynesburg University student.

     According to court documents filed with Magisterial District Court in Waynesburg and online at pacourts.us, Wyckoff, 19, of Cleveland, Ohio; Scott, 19, of Washington, DC; and Windham, 18, of Hyattsville, MD, were arrested by Waynesburg Borough Police, arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David Curt Balint and placed in Greene County Prison on Monday, Sept. 9. On Sept. 10, all three posted bond at $10,000 for Wyckoff and Windham, and $15,000 for Scott and were released.

     According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed with the court documents, Waynesburg Borough Police Officer Melissa R. Adamson, stated that she received a request to speak from Dominic Patrick, who was identified as the student victim in this incident. 

     The affidavit noted that Adamson interviewed Patrick on the event, detailing that he “heard a knock at the door” around 6 p.m. and opened it. 

     Adamson wrote in the affidavit, “Omari Scott, Deon Windham and Ja Shawn Wyckoff were at the door. Patrick did not know any of these individuals other than to see them and was on the same football team as Scott last year. Scott stated, ‘You snuck me?’ which was explained to me as meaning fight/fought me. Patrick was confused and said [‘what?’]. Suddenly, Scott punched Patrick in the head. Patrick described that the three males pushed their way into the dorm, closed the door and Omari continued to fight him. Patrick stated Windham grabbed the back of his shirt during the fight.” According to the affidavit, Kevin Thacker, who serves as the resident director of Martin Hall, “broke it up,” and Public Safety “was called at that time.”

      Later that evening Patrick, “reported the three of them returned” around 3:21 a.m. on Sept. 9. “They knocked at the door but he did not answer,” according to the affidavit. 

According to the affidavit, Scott and Wyckoff declined to speak to police, but Windham talked about going to the dorm room twice. 

     Wyckoff was charged with one count of Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact; one count of Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime; and one count of Criminal Conspiracy Engaging – Simple Assault. 

     Windham was charged with one count of Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime; one count of Criminal Conspiracy Engaging, Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact; and one count of Criminal Conspiracy Engaging – Simple Assault.

     Scott was charged with one count of Simple Assault; one count of Harassment – Follow In Public Place; and one count of Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime.      

     Stacey Brodak, who serves as the vice president of Institutional Advancement and University Relations for Waynesburg University, gave a prepared statement on the incident on behalf of the University.

          “Waynesburg University is aware of the altercation that occurred on campus on September 8, 2024. These matters are treated very seriously. Our highest priority is the health and safety of our campus community and any threats to such, and/or violations of our student code of conduct, will be handled swiftly by the University and law enforcement, as appropriate,” Brodak stated.

     As of Friday, Sept. 13, the status of Wyckoff, Windham and Scott as members of the student body was unclear. All three were listed as wide receivers on the Waynesburg University football team roster for the week one game between Waynesburg and Case Western Reserve on Saturday, Sept. 7. Their player’s profiles were no longer available on the Waynesburg University Athletics website.