Reward for Rowan student’s killer now $100,000

The reward for information leading to the killer of a Rowan University sophomore doubled this morning to $100,000.

The school added $50,000 to the bounty in hopes it would provide "a little bit more of an incentive for someone to come forward," said Joe Cardona, a Rowan spokesman.

Donald Farrell, 19, of Boonton Township, Morris County, was walking with friends to a Glassboro convenience store near campus on the night of Oct. 27 when he stopped to give directions to a group of men.

Without provocation, a member of the group punched Farrell in the neck. After Farrell collapsed to the ground, of the men kicked the fallen business major as another riffled through his pockets, taking a cell phone and wallet, investigators said.

The attack happened so quickly that Farrell's five companions could do nothing to save him, investigators said.

The assailants drove away. Farrell died the next day of a ruptured blood vessel.

Images of one of the suspects were caught by a surveillance camera at the convenience store. In the video, the man believed to have beaten Farrell is wearing a sweatshirt identified by investigators as a Coogie Heritage hoodie, with a gray body, red sleeves, and a British flag logo on the left chest area.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 20s, about 5-foot-7, with a medium complexion, braided hair, a thin moustache and a light goatee.

Rowan has contributed $75,000 of the reward money with the remainder provided by Gloucester and Morris County law-enforcement agencies.

The attack happened on homecoming weekend, when the campus was packed with people attending activities that included a football game against Montclair State University.

"We're doing everything we can to support the prosecutor's office," Cardona said. "So far, none of the leads have worked out. But they're working on it every day."

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 856-307-7180 or mcu@co.gloucester.nj.us.