A shooting incident occurred at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, during the institution’s homecoming week, resulting in at least four people being injured. The incident, which took place on Tuesday night, led to a lockdown that lasted more than two hours.
The shooting began shortly before 10 p.m. on the campus of the historically black university, according to local law enforcement. Vernon Davis, a spokesperson for the Baltimore Police, confirmed that four individuals were injured in the incident. Fortunately, none of the injuries sustained were considered life-threatening.
Upon receiving reports of the shooting, Baltimore Police issued a warning about an active shooter situation near the campus, specifically in the 1700 block of Argonne Drive. Residents were advised to stay indoors and seek shelter. By 11:45 p.m., the police announced that the threat of an active shooter had been neutralized. Shortly after 12:30 a.m., the university lifted the shelter-in-place order and resumed shuttle services.
Authorities have suggested that there may have been multiple shooters involved in the incident. City Council Member Ryan Dorsey stated that it is believed that three individuals were firing into the crowd. In response to the incident, the university advised people to avoid the areas surrounding Thurgood Marshall Hall and the Murphy Fine Arts Center. Parents concerned about their children were asked to gather in a nearby parking lot instead of coming to the campus.
The shooting occurred during the university’s homecoming week, a time of celebration leading up to the institution’s big game scheduled for Saturday. Earlier in the day, the university had planned to host a coronation event to crown Mister and Miss Morgan State.
One student reported mistaking the sound of gunfire for fireworks due to the ongoing festivities. Another student’s brother shared that his sibling was locked in a campus bathroom during the lockdown, awaiting clearance to leave.
Reports suggest that the shooter may have been firing from a dorm room. Images of a shattered seventh-floor window with a bullet hole in a residence hall, primarily occupied by freshmen, were shared by local media. It remains unclear whether the shots were fired from inside the room or from outside. Law enforcement, including Baltimore police, SWAT officers, and ATF cops, were seen entering the building and conducting a thorough search of the room with the shattered window.
The Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Baltimore office confirmed its involvement in assisting local police at the scene. This incident is not the first shooting to occur on campus during homecoming. In October 2022, a student was shot during an unsanctioned homecoming party, and in October 2021, another student was shot during a campus fight amid the celebrations.