andrea mccarren was on campus when the verdict came down. >> reporter: 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. a lot of people were shocked, when i saw the news. i s like whoa, wow. >> reporter: the bowie state university campus is healing, after a violent fight between roommates ended in death and traumatized the school community. >> i think it's tragic. but at the same time, i heard she was bullied and in a scary situation like that, you are going to try to defend yourself. >> reporter: alexis simpson admitted in court that she plunged a knife into the neck of her roommate, dominique frazier, but she testified it was an act of fear, an act of self-defense, a rare and risky defense. >> everybody was surprised. it's all or nothing. it's a gamble for the defendant but it paid off. she said, i did it, but i did it because my life was in danger. i did it in self-defense. >> reporter: they were disturbed by testimony that both young women kept knives in their dorm rooms. >> it