One person was fatally shot and seven more were injured after gunfire erupted early Sunday morning in the quad on the campus of Grambling State University.
The deadly shooting of a non-student was the second to occur during homecoming week at Grambling State, located in north central Louisiana. Last Wednesday, one person was killed and another wounded in an incident in front of the Favrot Student Union. Louisiana State Police suspect individuals not affiliated with the university opened fire in both cases.
“Our students come here for an education, and far too often it’s outsiders who have created these situations that have put life and limb in danger,” Grambling State University President Rick Gallot said in a statement. “That’s not why we’re here. That’s not what we’re about after 120 years, and so again, our priority is keeping our students safe.”
All classes were canceled for Monday and Tuesday and a curfew was imposed indefinitely by university officials starting each night at 9:30 p.m. The remainder of the homecoming events also were eliminated. Grambling State has counselors available to talk to students, faculty and staff if needed. However, the university is expecting staff to report to campus Monday and said it would provide further notifications to “key academic personnel” about their return.
The gunfire on Saturday interrupted preparations for a homecoming event in the McCall Dining Center, and the university was placed on lockdown. People inside the dining hall were asked to shelter in place before police determined the campus was safe. One of those who was injured was a student at the university. The identities have not been released.
Police have not identified potential suspects in Sunday’s shootings, according to several published reports. But they are pursuing Jatavious Carroll, 18, as a prime suspect in Wednesday’s killing of 19-year-old Damarius Murphy and a 16-year-old who was injured. None of them were students at Grambling.
The university is asking anyone with information to contact Louisiana State Police at (318) 345-0000 or (318) 374-2222.
