A 21-year old college student shot near a Harvard University residence hall has died.
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone identified the man Tuesday as Justin Cosby of Cambridge.
Cosby died early Tuesday. He found Monday at an entrance to Kirkland House, an undergraduate dormitory, after being shot in the abdomen.
The victim's mother, Denise Cosby, told the Boston Globe that she did not know why her son, a student at Salem State College, was at Harvard on Monday or why he was targeted. She said Cosby and his girlfriend left the family home in Cambridge in the afternoon. That evening her son's friend told her of the shooting, according to the Globe.
"It's just so strange. He was fine, healthy yesterday," Cosby told the Globe. "I just can't believe my son is not here today. Inside I'm just torn up, I feel like someone has murdered me."
Harvard has been mum on details of the shooting, beyond saying that the man was not a student at the university. In a statement, the school said the shooting appeared to be "isolated."
No arrests had been made by early Tuesday afternoon. Cambridge police are looking for several people they believe were involved and have scheduled a news conference for later today.
Students inside Kirkland House were told to remain there for several hours as police interviewed potential witnesses. Harvard is in the midst of final exams.
