A night meant for celebration turned tragic at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on Saturday when gunfire broke out, leaving one person dead and six others injured, authorities confirmed. The violence occurred outside the university’s International Cultural Center following a homecoming football game.
Investigators believe multiple shooters were involved in the incident, which took place amid a crowd of students and alumni gathered for the evening’s festivities.
Victims and Investigation
The victim who was killed has not yet been publicly identified, while the six others wounded are expected to recover, officials said Sunday.
The FBI and local police spent Sunday searching the area with K-9 units and collecting evidence, including shell casings. Authorities are also reviewing video footage submitted by witnesses and have urged anyone with recordings to contact investigators.
One man, Zecqueous Morgan Thompson, has been arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm without a license. However, investigators have not confirmed whether his weapon was used in the shooting. Thompson is currently being held at Chester County Prison on $25,000 cash bail.
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Authorities: Not a Planned Mass Attack
Officials emphasized that the shooting does not appear to have been a premeditated mass attack, but rather a sudden outbreak of violence during the homecoming events.
Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe described the scene as chaotic, saying, “It was a devastating night. After the gunfire broke out, people fled in every direction.”
He added that the investigation involves “the full power of federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
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University and State Response
In a statement released Sunday, Lincoln University, a historically Black university (HBCU) located in southeastern Pennsylvania, announced that classes would be canceled on Monday out of respect for the victims and to allow the campus community time to process the tragedy.
“What occurred last night was tragic for our students, our families, and our community,” the university said. “Gun violence happens far too often in our country, and we are heartbroken that Lincoln University and its students are among the latest victims of such senseless violence.”
Governor Shapiro Pledges State Support
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said his administration has been in contact with university officials since the shooting, offering “the full support” of the state to Lincoln University President Brenda Allen.
Shapiro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “This weekend should have been spent celebrating the legacy of our nation’s first degree-granting HBCU, not putting the pieces together after a mass shooting.”
He added, “Lori and I are praying for the six people injured, the families sick with worry, and the one soul who will not come home. May their memory be a blessing.”
