Cody Cousins
Cody M. Cousins, 23, the man allegedly responsible for the shooting death of a Purdue University student, was formally charged with murder today.
According to the university’s newspaper The Purdue Exponent, Cousins entered the court room calmly to hear the charges against him, answering in simple “yes” or “no” responses during the 2 p.m. hearing. Cousins plead not guilty to the charges against him today in court. Robert W. Gevers of Fort Wayne is Cousin’s defense attorney.
Should Cousins be found guilty, he could face up to 60 years for the charges filed against him currently. The Purdue Exponent reports that it is currently unknown whether the judge will seek the death penalty. The university paper also stated that Cousin’s sister and mother held hands as they entered the Tippecanoe County courtroom on Thursday afternoon and that his mother told the judge “Warsaw” when her son hesitated as to his hometown.
According to the Probable Cause Affidavit filed by Matthew J. Rosenbarger of the Purdue University Police Department, at 12:03 p.m. Jan. 21, Purdue Police and West Lafayette Police received several calls regarding a disturbance and shots fired on Purdue Campus in the Electrical Engineering Building. Upon arrival, police report seeing several people fleeing from the building.
After speaking with witnesses at the scene, officers learned that a male subject, identified as Cousins, had fired shots in a classroom within the building. Among those to first arrive at the scene was WLPD Officer Coomey, who reported locating cousins sitting on the ground with his hands behind his head. Cousins reportedly had blood on his hands and clothing.
Police state that upon arrival near Room 067 where the shooting occurred, they observed bloody footprints on the floor. Inside the room, police discovered a deceased male who was later identified as Andrew Boldt. His body had sustained knife and gunshot wounds. Police located a handgun on the ground in additional to several shell casings and a knife.
According to the affidavit, police interviewed several individuals who were present in Room 067 at the time of the incident. Witnesses identified Cousins as the person who stabbed and shot Boldt. Police also state that video footage from the building has been collected that showed that Cousins was present in the building.
Cousins is being held in the Tippecanoe County Jail without bond on a single charge of murder. His next court appearance is set for Feb. 24 with a jury trial tentatively set to begin April 22.