andrea mccarren was at the courthouse last night when the verdict came down. >> reporter: here on the bowie state campus, there is a mix of emotions. shock, sadness and relief that this high profile murder case appears to be over. >> a lot of students are disappointed. looft people are shocked. when i saw the news, i was like wow. >> reporter: the bowie university strap pus is healing after a violent fight it roommates ended in death and traumatized the school community. >> i heard she was bullied. in a scary situation like that, you're going to try to defend yourself. >> reporter: alexis simpson admitted in court that she plunge add knife into the neck of her roommate dominique frazier but she testified it was out of fear, an act of self- defense, a rare and risky defense. everybody was surprised. >> it was a gamble and paid off. i did it because my life was in danger. i did it in self-defense. >> reporter: administrators were among those disturbed by testimony that both young women kept fives in their dorm rooms. >> it's definitely a violation of university policy to have weapons of