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Frostburg Student Denies Murder Charge

CUMBERLAND, Md. (WJZ) -- Shock and sadness at Frostburg State University. A student was fatally stabbed while trying to break up a fight.

Mike Hellgren has more on the charges against another student and reaction from the stunned campus.

Many are reeling from this murder. A judge denied bail for the accused killer.

Kortneigh McCoy was stabbed in the head and neck after a vicious fight at a house party just steps from the Frostburg State University campus. The 19-year-old was from Baltimore, graduated from Poly and had a reputation as a peacemaker. Investigators say she died trying to break up a fight, leaving those who knew her on this close-knit campus stunned.

"Great personality. Everybody talks about her highly," said Brenden Williams.

"She seemed like this amazing, charismatic person that could make anyone smile. It's insane; I can't believe it actually happened," said Caroline Tonacci.

Police arrested Shanee Liggins, 23, for the murder, who's still in jail with no bail set. She's a senior business major and lived in the home where the fight started.

"Kortneigh's mother arrived at the hospital. She went to each and every student individually who was in that waiting room, and gave each of them a hug and let them know what had happened," said Frostburg Vice President Dr. Thomas Bowling.

Police say Liggins told them someone else had stabbed McCoy but witness testimony and pictures from the bloody aftermath led to the murder charges against her.

This is the second student-on-student killing at Frostburg State in the past two years.

"I share your outrage, your alarm and your grief that something like this has happened at Frostburg, as does this entire university community," said Frostburg President Jonathan Gibralter.

McCoy loved to sing and was in a gospel choir on campus. Now her voice is gone and a community is asking how could this happen.

University police say they monitor troubled off-campus party houses but this one was not on their list.

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