By james art Security is a primary concern for the North Carolina Central University community.
Thousands gathered on campus for homecoming festivities over the weekend when two unrelated shootings nearby interrupted the festivities.
Four people, including a student, are now recovering from gunshot wounds.
On Saturday at 7:43 p.m., the NCNS police received reports of a shooting near a dormitory. The university said the campus was immediately alerted.
Investigators determined that three shots were fired in the air, but no one was injured. It happened in the parking lot behind Debra Saunders-White Residence Hall.
Police arrested one suspect and issued a citation for everyone on campus at 8:11 p.m.
Two arrest warrants say North Carolina State Police arrested two people Saturday around the time of the shooting.
Danie Negash Medhin faces charges of discharging a firearm on educational property, while Joshua Michael Virgil is charged with possession of a handgun on educational property.
As a result of this incident, the university said it has begun suspending activities and has begun cleaning up the campus.
While clearing the campus, officers in the area heard gunshots and issued a separate campus alert at 8:59 p.m.
Investigators determined that four people, including one NCCU student, suffered non-life threatening injuries after being shot near the Student Services Building on Eagle Campus Drive.
Anahya Noel, a student at NCCU, was out on Saturday night when the celebration took a sudden turn.
“I was scared because, oh my God, there could be a possible shooter near us and you never know what could happen,” Noel said.
The campus was placed on lockdown until NCCU Police issued a full campus clearance at 11:48 p.m
“I was here in my dorm,” said Xavier Fenner, an NCCU student. “I also kept the door open for anyone who didn’t have access to my residence to come inside and hide.”
State and local law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigations into both incidents, the university said in a statement.
NCCU released a statement Sunday that read in part:
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has prepared and implemented a comprehensive security protocol in preparation for the celebration of the Ultimate Homecoming Experience on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Despite these extensive preparations, it is not possible to completely prevent accidental acts of violence. Unfortunately, our campus was visited by two such incidents that affected the joy and enthusiasm experienced by our campus community and guests during this celebration. The NCCU Police Department responded quickly and admirably to deal with the incidents and restore a sense of calm to the community.
The university also said it has nearly 2,000 security cameras that are actively monitored on campus. Additionally, more than 100 officers from multiple agencies were on campus Saturday, according to NCCU police.
“It’s something that’s very unfortunate, but we can’t just let it stop us from having a good time,” Fenner said. “We can’t let that stop us from celebrating homecoming or homecoming after this year. We just have to regroup and think about what we can do better next year.”
The NCCU said controlled access barriers were in place and crowds were monitored with drones, K-9 units and undercover officers.
The university said it has support resources for students, faculty and staff to use as needed. Students who would like to speak with a counselor may visit the NCCU Counseling Center during drop-in hours Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or call the 24-hour Counseling Center line at NCCU at 919-530-7646. Faculty and staff can use the ComPsych guidance resources on the University’s Human Resources page.