Maryland's Phi Sigma Sigma Holds Vigil for Murdered Sister

Maryland Sorority Honors Murdered Sister

Two students from universities on opposite sides of the country were shot and killed in February in a parking lot at Arizona State. The shooter then killed himself.

Nicole Schiffman, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, had flown across the country to visit friend Carol Kestenbaum at Arizona State University to celebrate her birthday. While returning to her apartment early Sunday morning, the girls were shot by 22-year old Joshua Mendel, a resident of Tempe, Arizona.

Nicole's Phi Sigma Sigma sisters at Maryland held a vigil in her honor earlier this week. They read poetry Nicole had written.

"It still hasn't even hit people. I still feel like I'm going to see her, just not today. I can't really imagine never seeing her again," said Robyn Geller, Nicole's former roommate.

Mendel opened fire on the girls in the parking lot, and turned and shot himself. Police believe he plotted the murder in response to critical remarks she made about the relationship he had with his girlfriend, and that Schiffman was caught in the middle of the dispute without having any previous relationship with the murderer.