Panic swept through South Carolina State University on Tuesday evening as multiple gunshots near campus student accommodation prompted an immediate lockdown and massive police response.
The Orangeburg-based university issued an urgent campus-wide alert around 9:30 PM local time, ordering all students and staff to shelter in place immediately while law enforcement secured the area.
Chaotic Scenes as Students Barricade Themselves Inside
Witnesses reported hearing multiple rounds of gunfire near the university's housing facilities, sending students scrambling for safety. Social media posts showed frightened students barricading themselves in dorm rooms and classrooms as the situation unfolded.
University police, joined by Orangeburg County Sheriff's Department and other local law enforcement agencies, swarmed the campus to locate both the shooter and any potential victims.
Intense Manhunt Underway
Authorities confirmed they were conducting room-to-room searches in affected areas while urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. The exact number of shooters remained unconfirmed as police worked to establish what triggered the violent incident.
"We are treating this as an active and ongoing situation," one law enforcement official stated anonymously. "Our priority is ensuring student safety while we locate those responsible."
Campus Security Under Scrutiny
This latest incident raises serious questions about campus security measures at American universities, particularly following several high-profile campus shootings in recent years.
South Carolina State University has implemented emergency alert systems and active shooter training, but tonight's events demonstrate the ongoing challenges educational institutions face in preventing such violence.
The university has promised to provide updates as more information becomes available, while counselling services are being prepared to support traumatised students and staff.
