Omaha police told Sara Ethington, Arts & Science freshman, that she must have a guardian angel.

On the evening of March 18, Ethington was standing in the middle of her fifth floor room in Kiewit Hall when a stray bullet shattered her window.

“I didn’t hear a gun shot, but there was glass all over the floor. I thought it was a rock or a ball,” Ethington said.

When she looked up at the window, she realized it was a bullet hole.

“I just started screaming,” Ethington said.

She wasn’t hurt, but there was glass in her hair. Later, police told her that she missed being hit by the bullet by 6 to 8 inches.

“They [Omaha police] told me I was very lucky,” Ethington said. “There were holes in the door behind me.”

The police later called to tell her they believe the shot was fired from a high-powered rifle.

“Mostly it’s put everything into a different perspective. I’ve taken it as a sign to appreciate life,” Ethington said.

Omaha police responded. There were reports of shots fired in the area of 31st and Dodge Streets. Public safety wrote in a campus crime alert e-mail that the event appeared to be a random, chance occurrence because they have no evidence to suggest that a campus building was the intended target.

“I don’t have any problems with safety on campus or in Omaha,” Ethington said. “This was just an accident.”