1 dead, at least 6 injured in shooting at Lincoln University, Chester County in Pennsylvania
What to Know
- One person was killed and six more were wounded in a shooting Saturday night at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University, where gunfire erupted during outdoor festivities as students and alumni celebrated homecoming at the historically Black school.
- The incident began at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and, officials believe, there may have been more than one shooter.
- Officials have announced one person, who allegedly had a gun, has been apprehended in this incident. But, officials did not immediately provide further information on this individual.
One person is dead and six others were injured after a mass shooting during a Homecoming Weekend event at Lincoln University in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, according to Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe.
“We don’t have a lot of answers about exactly what happened. What I will tell you is that today we’re operating as if this is not an incident where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus,” said de Barrena-Sarobe.
The shooting took place outside the school’s International Cultural Center (ICC) building on Saturday around 9:30 p.m., sending crowds of people fleeing in different directions.
During a press conference early Sunday morning, de Barrena-Sarobe said at least one person was killed while six others were injured in the shooting. He also revealed one person with a gun was in custody but confirmed that there may have been more than one shooter.
“It is a very real and distinct possibility,” he said.
The shooting placed the school on lockdown. The lockdown was lifted overnight, however, and officials said there’s no longer a threat to the public.
de Barrena-Sarobe also urged anyone with information on the shooting to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
Witnesses who spoke to NBC Philadelphia said people started running after a number of shots were heard during the school’s YardFest for Homecoming Week, causing a stampede.
“We heard them (the gunshots) and people started running,” one witness told NBC Philadelphia.
Aija Hopkins, another witness to the incident, said she got a feeling that something bad was happening as she started running.
“You felt it in your spirit, like, something was happening that wasn’t good,” she said. “So, I started running, and the next thing I know, people are getting shot.”
FBI agents are on site, providing support to Chester County detectives as they continue their investigation into the incident.
The motive for the attack has yet to be determined.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a statement as well, saying he was briefed on the situation.
Baltimore Pike and several other roads were closed in the area of the university, but police moved people who were at the event out of the area.
Located in Lower Oxford Township, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University is recognized as the first college-degree-granting historically black university (HBCU) in the country.
In addition to its main campus in Chester County, it also has a second location in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood.
This is a developing story; check back for more updates.
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