Bond set at $5k for MSU campus stabbing suspect

Just three days after allegedly stabbing a coworker and subsequently fleeing from Mississippi State University's campus, Jessie Michael Mcgee's bond has been set at $5,000.

Late Friday afternoon, a stabbing was reported in the MSU Student Union building. Details emerged in the hours following the stabbing, which was the apparent result of a workplace argument that escalated to violence.

The Starkville Daily News reported that Mcgee, 28, worked as a custodial employee at the Union, as did the victim, 31-year-old Morgan Hill.

MSU Police Chief Vance Rice said there was a delay on the department's reaction due to the victim hauling himself to the campus' police station rather than reporting it at the scene of the crime. After a bloodied-hill entered Mcgee the station lobby, Rice said his officers were quick to respond.

"My officers immediately started administering first-aid to him," Rice said.

Simultaneously, other officers moved to secure the crime scene and locate the suspect, who fled campus. Rice said the roughly three minute delay was enough to allow the suspect to evade authorities.

"We knew he was off campus pretty quick," Rice said.

Rice said MSUPD immediately contacted other local law enforcement agencies and coordinated appropriately with them to their search for Mcgee.

MSU Chief Communications Office Sid Salter said the incident was isolated and Mcgee posed no threat to anyone else on campus.

"At no time was anyone else on campus or at the Union in any danger," Salter said on Friday.

The building was reopened Saturday morning.

After being stabbing, the SDN also reported Hill was taken by ambulance to OCH Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. Salter later confirmed the victims was moved to Tupelo's North Mississippi Medical Center in stable condition.

Saturday night, Salter announced Mcgee had turned himself in to law enforcement. He faces a charge of aggravated assault.

Judge William Boykin was on the bench Monday morning for Mcgee's initial hearing. Boykin issued a bond of $5,000 for the alleged assailant.

Dates for further hearings are pending.