One dead, several injured in mass shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania
One person was killed and at least six others were injured in a shooting during a graduation ceremony at Lincoln University on Saturday night. United States’ The first historically black colleges were established, officials said.
An alleged gunman was taken into custody, Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said at an overnight news conference on campus. He said someone else may have also opened fire, but investigators are still trying to piece together the incident.
“There is some evidence that leads us to believe this is a viable theory at this time,” he said.
The prosecutor did not elaborate on a possible motive or what caused the gunfire. Local, state and federal law enforcement officials are investigating the incident, he said.
The extent of injuries to the six surviving victims has not yet been determined.
De Barrena-Sarobe said the attack took place before 9.30pm (12.30pm AEDT on Sunday) after crowds had left the homecoming football match and gathered outside the school’s International Cultural Centre.
University of Lincoln police Chief Marc Partee said the violence occurred as visitors gathered for the “tailgate” portion of homecoming weekend celebrations.
Eyewitnesses told NBC Philadelphia that the crowd began running away around 9 p.m. Saturday due to reports of gunshots on the campus near Oxford, Pennsylvania, in Chester County.
Although the nature of the shooting is unclear, Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe said in a statement, “It appears there was a mass shooting there tonight.” He urged people to join in prayer for students, faculty and law enforcement.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the state offers “full support” to school superintendent Brenda Allen and local law enforcement.
“Please avoid the area, continue to follow the guidance of local law enforcement, and join Lori and me in praying for the Lincoln University community,” Governor X said.
Two women who were on campus for the homecoming week event Yardfest told NBC Philadelphia they did not hear gunshots but joined a large crowd fleeing their location around 9 p.m.
“It was just a crowd of people,” said Ajia Hopkins, who accompanied friend and Lincoln graduate Dahjai Roger to Saturday’s event. “No statement was made after the run.”
Rogers said his friends were safe, but the three fell as they rushed to escape.
Speaking on his Instagram account, Lincoln said counselors would reach out to students Sunday morning, but otherwise provided little information about the attack.
Lincoln University says on its website that it is “the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU).”
“This mass shooting should never have happened, it should never have happened,” said de Barrena-Sarobe, the county prosecutor.
Saturday’s gunfire followed a separate shooting Friday night near Howard University, another historically Black college in Washington, D.C. Five people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in that attack, NBC Washington reported. Neither of the victims traveled to Howard, about 200 kilometers south-southwest of Lincoln, police said.
