Student’s alleged killer faces charges

The alleged murderer in the stabbing of University of Toledo sophomore Casey Bucher pleaded not guilty to one count of murder during his arraignment in Lucas County Common Pleas Court last Thursday.

Lawrence Fitzgerald James, 24, previously confessed to police when he was arrested for the stabbing on July 18.

James faces up to life in prison if convicted of the crime.

UT Police Department Chief of Police Jeff Newton said James will not face the death penalty if convicted because he "did not fit the criteria."

Bucher was stabbed and killed on July 18 on the corner of Bancroft Street and Westwood Avenue, near Maxwell's Brew, a coffee house adjacent to UT's campus.

The 22-year-old exercise science major was walking home to his Kenwood Gardens apartment after spending the evening at Maxwell's, when he was approached by a man demanding money and cigarettes and was stabbed once in the chest at about 8 p.m.

Bucher called 911 soon after being stabbed and was taken to Toledo Hospital, where he died.

James was released from the Lebanon Correctional Institution in Warren, Ohio on June 6 where he served a two-year term for felonious assault.

Newton said he and his department issued a timely warning to the university community, informing students and staff of Bucher's murder and encouraging them to take safety precautions.

"We're going to encourage folks to go to our website and look at safety information and tips, not to say that if you have safe habits that they will prevent you from becoming a victim in all situations. Of course, that's impossible, so we're just going to continue to encourage folks to practice safety habits and let them know what occurred," Newton said.

Newton said though events such as these are tragic, they are very rare at UT.

"I've been here since 1997 and I can only recall one other incident where someone died of a violent crime," Newton said. "A couple of years ago there was a boyfriend girlfriend relationship where there was a murder/suicide."

Though fatal incidents rarely occur at UT, Newton said, crime is something that cannot be escaped on a campus that is located in a metropolitan area.

According to the Lucas County Common Pleas Clerk of Courts Docket, bond for Fitzgerald James is set at $750,000.

The pre-trial for James is set for August 19, at 10:30 a.m. with the trial being set for September 7, at 9 a.m.