PITTSBURGH -- Stuard Baldonado, one of five Duquesne University basketball players injured in a shooting after a campus dance last year, is suing the school, claiming it did not do enough to protect him and other students that night.

The players hurt in the Sept. 17 shooting were Baldonado, Aaron Jackson, Sam Ashaolu, Shawn James and Kojo Mensah.

Duquesne is defending itself against the lawsuit, and attorneys for both sides were in court on Wednesday.

"This was a terrible event that occurred. It was unprecedented at the school," said Duquesne's attorney, Steve Zoffer. "It was a severe blow not only to the students that were involved but to the whole university family."

Two suspects, neither of whom is a Duquesne student, are awaiting trial on charges of attempted homicide and related counts.

Zoffer said the school has a reputation as one of the safest campuses in the country, and he said university officials do not think they should have to pay for a crime committed by an outsider on their campus.

"The basis for the objection relates to the university's responsibility for independent criminal acts of third parties which occurred on that evening," Zoffer said.

Baldonado was shot in the lower back and left arm. According to his attorney, Teresa Toriseva, the shooting left Baldonado's life and future career prospects in jeopardy.

"He certainly was an NBA hopeful, and there's a real risk for fear that that's simply gone," said Toriseva. "And that's being robbed from him because of the shooting, and we're seeking to hold the university accountable."

Toriseva said there was not enough security at the dance, which was open to both students and non-students.

"Another student asked the doorman, 'Are you going to frisk my friends?' It really is a common sense kind of case. The gunman never would have been at the dance, for example, if the doorman would have simply said 'Yes, I'm going to frisk them,'" Toriseva said.

A judge heard arguments from both sides on Wednesday and must now decide whether the lawsuit should move forward. No timetable has been set for that ruling.

Baldonado has not set an amount he is looking for in the civil suit.

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