South Carolina State University’s campus remained on lockdown Sunday afternoon and Monday’s classes were canceled following two separate shootings during the university’s homecoming celebrations.
Since Saturday night’s shootings, SCSU has implemented additional safety measures, “including controlled entry points for major events, increased camera monitoring, and enhanced emergency communications protocols,” according to Gerald Hubbard Smalls, the university’s vice president for finance and administration.
One person was killed and two were injured in the two unrelated shootings, according to state officials.
The first shooting happened on campus near the Hugine Suites, a student dormitory, triggering a campuswide lockdown, according to a statement from the university’s media relations department. Residents of the dormitory were asked to stay in place while off-campus residents were told to leave the campus, according to the alert. Non-students were asked not to come to the campus.
A woman who was visiting the campus was injured in the incident and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
“Another guest on campus was injured while running from the scene of the first shooting,” the university said in the statement.
A man who was also a guest on campus was injured in the second shooting and taken to a local hospital, the university said. He was later taken to another hospital via helicopter. The man is currently in the hospital, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said in a statement.
The university and SLED did not identify any of the victims. No SCSU students were injured in the incidents, university President Alexander Conyers said in a statement Sunday.
“The shootings are not believed to be connected at this time, however, SLED’s investigations are active and ongoing,” SLED said in the statement.
Anyone with information on either of the shootings is encouraged to get in touch with SLED.
The historically Black university is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, about 40 miles south of the state capital, Columbia.
The shootings took place several hours after the university’s homecoming game, prompting cancellations of Saturday night’s homecoming concert and all related events scheduled for Sunday.
In a statement, Conyers said SCSU is “cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate these senseless acts of violence.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the young woman who lost her life and to all who have been affected,” Conyers said in the statement.
The campus is accessible only to students, employees and investigators while the school remains “secured on lockdown,” according to the university.
Classes on Monday have been canceled, the university said in communications shared with the campus community on Sunday.
Video from the campus showed police tape cordoning off an area near the Hugine Suites on Saturday night.
Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., said in an X post Saturday night that his office is closely monitoring the situation at the university.
“Praying for everyone’s safety on campus,” he wrote.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., advised everyone on campus to follow law enforcement’s instructions.
“Our hearts are with the students, faculty, and families affected,” she wrote in a statement posted to X.
The university is providing counseling services for members of the campus community who need it, according to its media relations department.
The investigation into the incidents is ongoing.
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