NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Two people have died from their injuries after being shot in a parking lot on West 49th Street in the area of Broderick Dining Commons on the Old Dominion University campus Wednesday night, Norfolk and ODU Police said.

ODU Police said around 9:50 p.m., two people, later identified as 18-year-old Delanio M. Vick and 20-year-old Timothy G. Williams, were shot in Parking Lot 3 in the 1400 block of W. 49th St. ODU and Norfolk Police said neither person is a student nor affiliated with the university. The two men were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where they later died.

“I saw a girl just hovering over the body, screaming hysterically,” said ODU student Zaria Stovall. “And I was like, ‘What is going on?’ … We’re watching the view from our big window, and then, that’s when I noticed a second body that was laying farther apart from the first body. I didn’t even notice the first one when I was … looking through my window. And that one was also very limp.”

Police response to shooting on campus

Police lifted the campus lockdown at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday after both ODU and Norfolk police said there was no further threat to the campus community.

But the big question remains — who pulled the trigger and why? And was there any student that was in the immediate line of danger?

“Not that we’re aware of,” said ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton. “And you know, when the officers first arrived, there were people, I think, that came in to help out, but not that I’m aware of. It’s my understanding the dining hall had actually closed maybe minutes prior to this. So we know from the officers who responded that there were no other university activities going on there. There were no other events that were occurring in that area. So to say it was probably normal traffic during that time of the night would be the easiest thing to say.”

Despite that reassurance, fear lingers on campus, but Shelton said safety is his top priority.

“I’ve got kids in college, and I’m too far from them,” Shelton said. “So I understand the anxiety that comes with a parent being too far away from their kids. And I promise to do everything I can to protect them as well as I would my own children.”

An ODU Urgent Alert issued earlier in the evening Wednesday stated there was a suspect at large, ODU Police said. As of early Thursday evening, there was no word of a suspect or one in custody.

Students shaken by shooting

“It just became a very surreal moment when we saw the notification pop up,” said one ODU student who asked to remain anonymous. “… While it was a fast reaction time on behalf of the notification system, it definitely felt longer on our end because we had already been experiencing that panic for like 10 minutes.”

For some, those minutes felt like a lifetime.

“I was shaking as soon as I saw what happened,” Stovall said. “I was trying to call my mom — I couldn’t even type the numbers because my hands were shaking. … I’m shaking the camera, showing her the scene, and she’s like, ‘What are you talking about? Two people are dead outside your window?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah.'”

Norfolk Police response

Norfolk Police said it would work with ODU Police to find anyone who is responsible for the shooting.

“We are deeply saddened by the unnecessary violence that occurred overnight on the campus of Old Dominion University,” Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot said. “Students attend a university to learn, and deserve to feel safe in their environment while doing so. We appreciate the strong partnership we have with the men and women of the Old Dominion University Police Department and all of their assistance both last night at the scene and today as we investigate this double homicide. Chief Sheldon and I will continue to work closely together to ensure that our teams have the resources they need to hold those who are responsible for this violence accountable for their actions.”

ODU president reaches out to campus community

ODU President Brian Hemphill said in a letter to the university community earlier Thursday that despite no one connected to the university was hurt, “this incident certainly impacts our community.”

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Late yesterday, there was a campus incident that resulted in life-threatening injuries to two individuals. An immediate alert was sent with subsequent updates in the hours following the incident. As the City of Norfolk Police Department continues its investigation, additional information will be shared once available. The University is aware of misinformation being shared both on campus and in the community. Individuals are encouraged to rely on official information issued by the City of Norfolk Police Department, as well as formal University statements.

Although no Old Dominion University students, faculty, or staff were injured, this incident certainly impacts our community. Please keep those impacted in your thoughts and prayers. Also, please accept our sincere appreciation for your patience and understanding during this evolving situation. To support our campus community, walk-in counseling is available throughout the day in the Student Recreation and Well-Being Center. For students, the Office of Counseling Services is hosting a Let’s Talk About It virtual support group from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM today with registration available on MonarchGroups. For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program is available and accessible at https://www.odu.edu/human-resources/benefits/eap.

As the safety of our campus is a top priority, the Old Dominion University Police Department is deeply committed to protecting all Monarchs and ensuring a safe learning, living, and working environment at all times. We take this responsibility very seriously in close collaboration with local authorities and other critical partners. Without question, we remain committed and vigilant in our daily work and overall efforts both now and well into the future.

— Brian Hemphill, ODU president

In a letter to the campus community later Thursday, Hemphill offered his condolences to the two people who died.

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Earlier today, I shared a message of care and concern for our community in the wake of a campus incident that occurred late yesterday. Since this morning’s message was distributed, the City of Norfolk Police Department released an official statement. In that online posting, it was shared that the incident resulted in the passing of two individuals. These individuals were not Old Dominion University students, faculty, or staff.

First and foremost, the Monarch Nation expresses sincere condolences to the family members and loved ones of those who tragically passed. Additionally, we join together in calling for anyone responsible to be held accountable for their actions.

Last night’s event is troubling and produces a range of emotions based on our personal experiences. As such, our students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to make use of the wide array of resources, services, and support that are available both on and off campus.

At this time, I want to personally acknowledge the work of the University’s Police Chief Garrett Shelton, the City’s Police Chief Mark Talbot, and the men and women in their respective departments. Our University police officers arrived on the scene in seconds – not minutes. They skillfully administered first aid on the scene and thoughtfully engaged in immediate efforts to confirm no ongoing threat to our campus. The City police officers diligently worked to secure the scene and conduct an investigation. While the investigation remains ongoing with no continued threat to our campus, we are fortunate to have such dedicated and qualified personnel to serve our community and the local area.

While this recent incident gives us significant pause, it also highlights our resolve to protect our campus community through our shared commitment to support each other and the unwavering professionalism of our first responders. It is the power of our campus and the collaboration of our community that solidifies a safe learning, living, and working environment that both defines and supports all that we do to fulfill and advance our worthwhile mission on a daily basis.

— Brian Hemphill, ODU president

Helping students process what they experienced

Many students may be looking for someone to talk to following the incident.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jenny Brown explained that it’s normal after witnessing something like this to feel frightened and shocked. But she explained that it’s important to realize that everyone reacts differently.

“It’s pretty natural that it can disrupt your sleep, disrupt your focus, disrupt not wanting to be around other people. Sometimes, because you just feel overloaded, also feeling like you don’t want to go back to the area where it was so avoiding things,” Brown said.

She says now is the time for those who were impacted to stick to their normal routine. She also added that peer support goes a long way.

“Trying to maintain activity with their friends, not isolating, trying not to numb it in any way with substances in terms of their emotions, distraction can be helpful,” Brown said. “Usually there’s a lot of comfort and just knowing you’re not alone.”

Campus ministry supporting students

Joshua McCauley, director and campus minister for the Wesley Foundation at ODU and a ministry of the United Methodist Church, said he had been at the nearby Wesley Center for an event Wednesday evening and had just left to go home when he got the ODU Urgent Alert about an active shooter on campus and returned to the center.

“One of the rules of the chaplain is to make sure that we’re here to support our students,” McCauley said. “I’m happy to serve as a part of one of the university chaplains and the university chaplain association so I wanted to make sure students had a space to turn to when disasters like this take place.”

McCauley said “it’s disheartening [for it] to be here on our campus. I know there’ll be a lot of pain, and a lot of worry and anxiety amongst students. I’ve already been texting quite a few of them, checking in and making sure they’re OK and making sure they know that Wesley is open for them and a space for them to be.

“We’ve got some work to do here to heal.”

An emergency alert was sent by email, phone and text at 10:01 p.m. advising the campus community to stay indoors. At 11:43 p.m., ODU sent another emergency alert to lift the shelter-in-place.

ODU Police said walk-in counseling services will be available Thursday for students. The Office of Counseling Services can be reached at 757-683-4401, and appointments can be made online.

Check with WAVY.com for updates.