Initially, the Baltimore Police Department declared an “active shooter situation” around 9:30 p.m., prompting a lockdown of the historically Black college’s campus. Law enforcement provided limited details about their ongoing investigation. Police Commissioner Richard Worley confirmed the ages of the victims and stated that their injuries were not life-threatening during a late-night news conference.
Morgan State Police Chief Lance Hatcher noted that four of the victims are students at the university. No arrests have been made, and the police have not released information about potential suspects.
Following the incident, authorities advised people on campus to stay indoors and avoid the affected area. The active shooter situation was later resolved, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted around 12:30 a.m.
City Council member Ryan Dorsey mentioned that it is believed there were three shooters firing into the crowd. However, Commissioner Worley declined to provide details about the number of shooters involved.
This shooting transpired during a week of events leading up to the university’s homecoming game, with the coronation of Mister & Miss Morgan State scheduled for Tuesday night at the Murphy Fine Arts Center.
Shortly after midnight, numerous students, dressed in gowns and suits, left the arts center, where they had sought shelter. Many were trying to come to terms with the sudden turn of events that transformed an evening of celebration into one marred by chaos and fear.
As investigators examined the scene, orange evidence markers were visible on the ground near the dormitory where the shooting occurred. Yellow crime tape encircled the area, and officers used flashlights to gather evidence.
Concerned parents gathered at a media staging area outside the south entrance to the campus. James Willoughby, an alumnus of Morgan State with a freshman daughter, insisted on staying until he saw her. “I’m gonna be here until I can physically see her,” he declared.
Glenmore Blackwood, a father who arrived at the campus upon hearing from his senior son, noted that the shooting happened just as festivities for the coronation were concluding. His son, who was part of the ceremony, remained sheltered in the arts center’s auditorium.
Morgan State University President David Wilson announced the cancellation of classes for Wednesday.
The university, with an enrollment of approximately 9,000 students, has a rich history dating back to 1867. Originally established as the Centenary Biblical Institute, its mission was to train men for ministry. In 1917, it moved to its current location in northeast Baltimore and was subsequently acquired by the state of Maryland in 1939 to expand educational opportunities for Black citizens.
City Council member Odette Ramos expressed her deep concern for the campus and the city, describing the incident as “horrific” and “traumatic” for everyone involved.