Theatre professor shot and killed by roommate who mistook her for intruder at Georgia home

A 41‑year‑old theatre lecturer from Columbus State University was shot and killed by her roommate on Monday night in a home in Columbus, Georgia. Erica Anderson had just started teaching costume design and supervising the university’s costume shop for the fall semester. She was renting a room in the house with an unnamed roommate.

The roommate, on edge after receiving repeated terroristic threats from her son, grabbed a handgun when she heard Anderson’s key turn in the door late at midnight. She thought the woman was an intruder breaking into the house. The roommate fired twice, missing the first shot and striking Anderson in the chest with the second. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said the death was ruled accidental.

Anderson was returning to the Georgia rental after visiting her husband and their three children in Indiana. The husband is currently undergoing cancer treatment. The shooting has shocked the Columbus State community and the wider theatre world.

Columbus State University President Stuart Rayfield praised Anderson’s impact, saying “our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends, as well as the students she impacted.” Anderson’s career included teaching at Southern Utah University and the University of Florida, and she performed in theaters across the country, such as Sarasota Opera and Indiana Repertory Theatre.

The university and community are mourning the loss of a passionate educator and theatre professional. The incident highlights the dangers of domestic tension and the importance of clear communication in shared homes.

Source: New York Post

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