ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Two separate shootings unfolded at South Carolina State University on Saturday evening, casting a shadow over the institution’s annual homecoming celebration. The incidents have left a 19-year-old woman dead and another man hospitalized.
Overview of the South Carolina State University Shootings
One of the shootings occurred near the Hugine Suites, an on-campus housing facility, prompting immediate lockdown measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. Authorities have identified the deceased victim as Jaliyah Butler, who succumbed to her injuries at MUSC Health Orangeburg, reports the Independent. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week to determine the precise cause of death.
In a separate, unrelated incident on campus, an unidentified male was shot. The injured man received medical treatment at a nearby hospital, though the severity of his injuries remains unclear. A third guest also sustained injuries while fleeing the scene of the first shooting, reports WCBD.
Both Butler and the unnamed injured male who was shot were guests on the SC State University campus.
Teen Suspect Arrested: Charges and Evidence
In connection with one of the shootings, 18-year-old Matthew Daniel McCoy has been arrested and charged with pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, as well as carrying a weapon on school property, reports WJBF. According to a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrest warrant, McCoy was found with a loaded Glock handgun in his vehicle. He allegedly used the firearm to shoot twice at an unidentified male after witnessing an altercation.
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The shootings unfolded in the midst of the university’s homecoming festivities, mere hours following the football game. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with one student recounting to Live 5 WCSC, “everybody running” after the shots rang out. The university swiftly enforced a lockdown, advising those on campus to remain indoors and those off-campus to stay away. The lockdown was lifted on Monday morning, allowing normal campus activities to resume.
Classes scheduled for Monday were cancelled, and security has been heightened across the campus. Entrance checks for identification and vehicle screenings are now in place as part of the enhanced security measures. Several campus events, including the anticipated Homecoming concert, were cancelled in light of the tragedy. Counseling services have been made available to students to help them cope with the traumatic event, reports WYFF.
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The shootings have prompted a thorough investigation by SLED, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
