Student injured in shooting to miss graduation

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's an exciting time for young men and women graduating college, and moving on to the next phases of their lives. But one Texas Southern University student is being robbed of that opportunity to attend his graduation ceremony, because he was the victim of a violent robbery.

Folks at TSU still upset shooting injuries are keeping a well-liked student from walking across the stage to receive his diploma. That's why those close to him told me they're planning to honor that graduate in a special way.

As students on Texas Southern University's campus prepare for Saturday's graduation, it's an especially tough time for graduating senior Dominique Hosea. The 21-year-old is still in intensive care, recovering from a shooting near campus two weeks ago.

Dominique's older brother Elvonte Patton said, "It's like a bittersweet moment for me. We didn't get a chance to take graduation pictures or anything like that, so it kind of hurts because we did plan to walk together."

Elvonte told me his family just learned doctors aren't yet ready to discharge his brother in time to attend the graduation the two had been planning to make a memorable moment at TSU.
Patton was expecting to receive his master's degree the same time his now-injured brother got a bachelor's in business management.

"Man, he spent four years in college, you know, who wouldn't want to graduate," Elvonte said. "So he was very pumped up about it."

Police say they're still looking for leads on the armed robber who shot Dominique in the leg and shoulder as he and his girlfriend were walking from a campus party to his car parked nearby on Arbor and Burkett.

"It's senseless," Elvonte said. "My brother only had $2 in his pocket."

Now Elvonte, his family and their Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers say they still want to make graduation special as the injured student continues to recover at Ben Taub Hospital.

"I made sure I went and bought him a cap, you know, a gown," Elvonte explained. "I want him to be able to feel like he's graduating, if nothing else."

Meantime, students on and around campus are still on edge knowing the gunman is still on the streets.

"Although he can't walk across the stage, I'm glad that he made it through the surgery and that he's doing well," said student Rachael Richmond.

Patton tells me during the graduation ceremony, he'll be walking across the stage to accept his brother's diploma.

Police are urging anyone with information about that shooting to call HPD's robbery unit.