Baltimore, MARYLAND - On Tuesday night, a horrifying incident unfolded at Morgan State University in Baltimore, where five individuals were shot. At present, authorities are yet to apprehend a suspect, leaving the community in a state of heightened alert.
Morgan State University Police Chief Lance Hatcher confirmed that four of the victims were students of the university, aged between 18 and 22. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley reported that all five victims, four men and one woman, were transported to a hospital with injuries that, thankfully, are not life-threatening.
The incident transpired during a widely attended homecoming week event at the historically black college and university (HBCU) in northeast Baltimore. This violent disruption serves as a distressing reminder of the over 500 mass shootings recorded in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Following the gunfire, orders were issued for both students and faculty to take shelter for hours while a SWAT team meticulously searched a student dormitory building. However, later investigations yielded no suspect and authorities no longer considered it an active shooter situation.
“We did not locate the suspect at this time,” stated Commissioner Worley. No description of the suspect has been provided by the police, and it remains uncertain how many shooters were involved.
“The scene remains active and we are working alongside our many federal law enforcement partners to piece together everything that exactly happened,” added Worley, emphasizing that all details are still considered preliminary.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Baltimore office has announced its collaboration with local authorities in the search for shell casings and additional evidence.
As the incident unfolded, police advised the campus community to steer clear of the area surrounding Thurgood Marshall Hall and the Murphy Fine Arts Center.
Morgan State University President David Wilson shared that the Murphy Fine Arts auditorium was nearly at full capacity for the coronation event of Mr. and Miss Morgan State University. This event typically draws families from across the country.
According to a student identified only as David, gunshots were heard as the on-campus event was concluding. He described the ensuing chaos, with everyone scrambling for safety. Initially, he believed it to be fireworks.
Another student named Jason recounted the difficulty he faced in contacting his family amidst the turmoil, emphasizing the expectation of safety when attending a university.
Morgan State had approximately 9,000 enrolled students in Fall 2022. This tragic event occurred just days before a scheduled candlelight memorial service to honor members of the university community who passed away over the past year.
The university president announced the cancellation of classes on Wednesday, with counselors made available to students. Plans for the remainder of the homecoming week will be assessed promptly.