According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, a Richland County teenager was apprehended on Sunday after many gunfire occurred on the South Carolina State University campus during Saturday’s homecoming celebration.
Matthew Daniel McCoy, an 18-year-old Blythewood resident, was charged with pointing and exhibiting a pistol at another person, as well as carrying a weapon on school grounds, according to an SLED press release.
McCoy was booked into the Orangeburg County Detention Center but has not been charged with murder or attempted murder. The first of the shootings occurred on the university’s Orangeburg campus, killing a lady, according to SLED. According to the announcement, a guy was taken to the hospital after being struck by bullets during the second shooting.
SLED stated that the incidents are not believed to be related at this time.
According to an arrest warrant, McCoy had an unsecured Glock handgun under his vehicle’s passenger seat, and after witnessing a confrontation between two groups on campus, he took out the pistol and shot twice at a man wearing a black and red hoodie.
The First Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute McCoy, according to SLED.
There was no indication on whether the male gunshot victim was the one McCoy is suspected of targeting with the two rounds.
The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office has not officially named the lady who, according to university authorities, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
According to the release, the individual who was shot was transferred to an area hospital before being airlifted by helicopter to another hospital. More information about his condition was not accessible.
Another guest on campus was hurt while fleeing the scene of the first incident, according to officials. There was no information available about that victim’s condition.
According to campus officials, none of the casualties were South Carolina State students.
There was no information available regarding any other shooters or the number of people involved, and there was no word on a motive for any of the firearm incidents.
As of 4 p.m. Sunday, no more arrests had been recorded, but the shootings were still being investigated by SLED at the request of the South Carolina State Department of Public Safety.
Anyone with information on the shootings is encouraged to call 866-472-8477 or email [email protected].
The shootings occurred at South Carolina State’s homecoming weekend celebration, according to university officials. According to the institution, public safety ordered a lockdown on campus soon after the first shooting occurred.
Following the gunfire, a planned homecoming performance at 10 p.m. Saturday was canceled, as were all other events slated for Sunday, according to university authorities. Furthermore, all courses on Monday have been canceled, according to officials.
According to the announcement, the campus remained under lockdown as of Sunday afternoon, with only students, employees, and investigators having access.
“If you are not a current student, please do not attempt to come to campus,” university officials stated Saturday evening. All off-campus inhabitants were also instructed to leave the campus.
Parents who want to check on their students should go to the university’s public safety checkpoint at the Chestnut Street/Wilkinson Boulevard entrance or call the department at 803-536-7188.
