ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) – One man is dead and five others are injured following a shooting incident at Elizabeth City State University. Multiple law enforcement agencies, both state and local, are investigating the on-campus shooting.
ECSU has confirmed the shooting happened in the early hours Sunday morning around 12:30 a.m. Students were out on the quad for the university’s annual Viking Fest, which started at 8 p.m. and carried on into the night.
“We were just having fun. They were playing music, everybody was dancing. And then a short moment after that there were pops happening and everybody started running in the same direction,” an ECSU student told WAVY.
Students reported seeing arguments break out as the night went on. Then they heard sporadic gunshots, followed by what they said sounded like automatic gunfire.
“There were separated shots towards the beginning and then after I started getting more distance away, they started becoming one after the other like rapid fire. It was very hectic. A lot of people were getting run over a lot of people were falling. I was just trying to make sure I got away as safe as possible. After that I met up with some friends. Everybody I know was fine.”
The school has confirmed a 24-year-old man, who was not a student, was shot and pronounced dead. They also confirmed that three ECSU students sustained gunshot wounds and two other students were injured in the commotion. They were all taken to local hospitals for treatment and none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
ECSU has stated they will be offering counseling services to students who’ve experienced trauma or distress from this shooting. If you’re a student and think you need those services, they are available at the university’s Fine Arts Center. You can find more details by clicking here.
