Storrs is not a dangerous area...
I've been there and lived in Hartford, West Hartford and East Hartford; all seedier. Having a huge student population in a small New England town is never a good idea. There is never much going on and crime rises up from the dust of boredom and teen angst.
West Hartford (where University of Hartford is located) is generally a quiet upper-middle class suburb until the students arrive each September and begin vandalizing lawn ornaments and golf courses. Storrs is no different; I was in Hartford when UConn won the tournament in 1999 and I remember cars being overturned, etc.
I don't know what relevance this has to the recent tragedy but I find it ironic that Storrs has a violent crime problem, like Hartford. Also, don't get my wrong, I had my share of fun as an angst ridden college youth, but no one got hurt!