Five individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a shooting incident outside a residence hall at Morgan State University in Baltimore. The incident prompted a lockdown and a shelter-in-place advisory on the historically Black college’s campus.

The Baltimore Police Department initially responded to reports of an “active shooter situation” around 9:30 p.m., sparking an immediate lockdown of the university grounds. The incident took place near a residential building situated on the same block as a city police station, resulting in shattered windows due to gunfire.

Police Commissioner Richard Worley reported that the victims, consisting of four males and one female, are aged between 18 and 22, with their injuries not deemed life-threatening. He shared these details during a late-night news conference.

Morgan State Police Chief Lance Hatcher confirmed that four of the victims are students at the university.

While no arrests have been made, and authorities have not released information about suspects, City Council member Ryan Dorsey indicated that it is believed there were three shooters involved in the incident. Commissioner Worley declined to provide details about the number of shooters.

The shooting occurred during a week of activities leading up to the school’s homecoming game scheduled for Saturday. The coronation of Mister & Miss Morgan State was set for Tuesday night at the Murphy Fine Arts Center.

Following the incident, students who had been sheltering at the arts center, many dressed in formal wear, began leaving the building shortly after midnight. For some, what was supposed to be a night of celebration turned into a moment of chaos and fear.

Konnor Crowder, a sophomore from Baltimore, recalled seeing people running across the campus, prompting questions about their safety and where to go next.

Evidence markers were visible on the ground near the dorm where the shooting occurred, while yellow crime tape cordoned off the area as officers conducted their investigation.

Concerned parents gathered at a media staging area outside the south entrance to campus, with some, like James Willoughby, vowing to stay until they could confirm their children’s safety.

Morgan State University President David Wilson announced the cancellation of classes for the following day.

The university, established in 1867, has approximately 9,000 enrolled students and has played a significant role in providing educational opportunities for Black citizens in Maryland. City Council member Odette Ramos expressed the tragedy of the situation and its impact on the campus and Baltimore as a whole, calling it a “very traumatic situation for everybody involved.”