Two people are dead and a third is wounded following a shooting at South Carolina State University late Thursday night. The violence erupted at the Hugine Suites residential complex, plunging the campus into an overnight lockdown that lasted nearly eight hours.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed that all three victims were men who were shot inside a room at the on-campus housing facility. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital.
The third victim remains hospitalized, though officials have not yet released specific details regarding his current medical condition. University authorities have withheld the names of the deceased victims pending the notification of their next of kin.
Campus police received initial reports of gunfire around 9:15 p.m., triggering an immediate shelter-in-place order for all students and staff. The lockdown remained in effect until approximately 5 a.m. Friday, when law enforcement determined the immediate threat to the campus had passed.
SLED has taken the lead in the investigation and is currently processing evidence from the crime scene at 300 College Avenue. No suspects have been publicly identified, and police have not yet disclosed a potential motive for the deadly altercation.
Student Kaya Mack, who was delivering food on campus when the shooting occurred, described a chaotic scene filled with rushing police vehicles. "Their loud sirens kind of shook me," Mack told local reporters, noting the confusion and fear that quickly gripped the student body.
In response to the tragedy, university officials announced the cancellation of all classes for Friday to allow the community time to grieve. Grief counselors and support services have been made available to students and faculty members struggling with the sudden violence.
Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler issued a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss of life and offering prayers for the victims' families. "Violence has no place in Orangeburg and it does not reflect who we are as a community," the mayor said in his public address.
This incident marks the second deadly shooting on the campus in recent months, following a similar tragedy during homecoming celebrations last October. That previous event left a 19-year-old woman dead and raised ongoing concerns about security measures at the university.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division immediately. The investigation remains active as police work to determine exactly what led to the fatal gunfire inside the dormitory.