Shooting at South Carolina State University leaves two dead and one injured, campus on lockdown

ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA: A late-night shootout shattered the calm at South Carolina State University on Thursday, February 12, leaving two people dead and at least one other injured after gunfire erupted inside a campus residential complex, officials confirmed.

Authorities are still piecing together what exactly happened. Investigators are yet to release key details about the victims, the wounded individual, or whether a suspect remains on the loose. The tragedy prompted an immediate campus lockdown and forced the historically Black university to cancel classes as law enforcement blanketed the area into Friday morning.

Deadly shooting sparks campus lockdown

The university confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is leading the investigation into the shooting.

According to the statement, the violence broke out around 9:15 pm local time inside an apartment at the Hugine Suites student residential complex. The information was posted on the school’s Facebook page.

Officials quickly moved to secure the campus following reports of shots being fired. The university said it issued a lockdown at approximately 9:15 pm Thursday after learning about the shooting inside the student housing facility. It remains unclear if the shooter had been identified or apprehended.

"University officials have not yet confirmed the victims' identities or ‌the condition of the wounded person," the statement said.

The school, which serves fewer than 3,000 students, remained under lockdown as of early Friday while law enforcement officers continued combing the area for answers.

Multiple agencies respond as investigation continues

Police presence remained heavy into the early morning hours, with state and local agencies working together to maintain security on campus.

Along with SLED, the university’s Department of Public Safety was assisted by the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office in patrolling both the campus and nearby areas.

As investigators worked through the night, university officials announced that Friday classes would be canceled. Counseling services were also made available to students and staff.

South Carolina State is one of two historically Black universities located in Orangeburg, a riverfront college town situated roughly 40 miles southeast of the state capital, Columbia. The other institution is Claflin University.

Officials remain tight-lipped as questions mount

Information about the shooting remained scarce at the time of writing, with officials declining to elaborate while the investigation remains active.

A person who answered the phone at the university’s public safety office on Thursday night told Reuters they were not at liberty to provide any information about the incident.

Authorities have not yet said what led to the shooting, whether the victims were students, or if there is any ongoing threat to public safety. Law enforcement agencies have also not released any details regarding a possible suspect or motive.

South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace posted on X, "Stop what you’re doing and pray. South Carolina State University is on lockdown tonight following reports of a possible shooting incident. Join us in prayer for the students, staff and their families. God bless our brave law enforcement responding tonight."

More details are awaited as officials continue their probe.