A tragic incident occurred at the University of South Carolina in the United States on Thursday evening, resulting in the death of two people and injuries to a third, following a shooting that took place inside the university campus, prompting a large security mobilization and a temporary closure of the area.
Details of the incident in the student housing
According to an official statement from the university administration, the shooting occurred in an apartment building within the student housing complex. Security forces and ambulances rushed to the scene immediately after receiving reports, and a security cordon was established around the area to ensure the safety of students and staff. The incident led to the closure of the campus for several hours as a precautionary measure in such emergencies, before the closure was lifted after it was confirmed that the immediate danger had passed.
Classes suspended, investigations continue
The university announced on its official Facebook page that officials have not yet been able to confirm the identities of the two victims or disclose the exact medical condition of the injured person, in order to maintain the confidentiality of the investigation and until the victims' families are notified. In light of this tragic event, the university administration has decided to cancel all classes scheduled for Friday to allow investigators to carry out their work and out of consideration for the students' emotional state.
Reports indicated that the State Security Forces (SLED) had taken over the investigation into the circumstances of the incident, and work was underway to collect evidence and listen to witnesses in order to determine the motives behind the shooting and to reach the perpetrators.
The context of violence and the challenges of university security
This is not the first such incident at this educational institution; the university has previously experienced two shootings, one of which occurred in the same student housing complex, resulting in one death and one injury. These recurring incidents cast a shadow over security at American educational institutions and reignite the debate about the need to strengthen security measures to protect students on campus.
It is worth noting that South Carolina State University has a student community of approximately 2,800 students, which makes the impact of such incidents painful and direct on all members of the relatively small university community, amid increasing calls for a safer learning environment.
