Multiple people, including children as young as eight, have been wounded in a mass shooting at an unofficial homecoming event near Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU).
According to the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, on November 5th around 10pm, officers responded to reports of shots fired at 35028 Cameron Road in Waller, approximately four miles from the university’s campus.
“Deputies arrived at the scene and discovered that four adult females, two adult males, and one juvenile male had been shot while attending a trail ride pasture party that was being held in conjunction with a Prairie View A&M Homecoming party,” stated the sheriff’s office.
“All victims sustained gunshot wounds to their lower extremities with no known life-threatening injuries,” added the authorities.
“An unknown number of individuals attending the party were engaged in a verbal dispute when a firearm was discharged several times, striking seven bystanders,” continued the statement.
The sheriff’s office estimated that over 1,000 people attended the homecoming event. Despite “security being provided by Waller County Pct. 3 Constables and an unknown private security agency,” the statement noted that “none of the security protocols that were established by the permitting body and agreed to by the promoter were found to be followed at the time of the incident.”
An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
The identities of the victims remain unidentified; however, reports suggest that two of the victims are believed to be only eight and thirteen years old.
Emergency helicopters were dispatched to transport some of the victims to the hospital, while investigators were seen at the scene surrounded by party decorations scattered on the grass.
In response to the incident, the university expressed its sadness in a statement to The Independent. The university clarified that the event was not officially associated with PVAMU.
“PVAMU is both saddened and troubled by the senseless act of violence that occurred in Waller County last night,” stated the university.
“Although this was not an official PVAMU homecoming event and was unaffiliated with the University, our campus community is deeply concerned for those injured and all affected by this incident. The Waller County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.”
The Waller County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the event was not an official PVAMU celebration but had received approval from the county judge.
“The mass gathering was approved by the County Judge for the location of FM 362 and Cameron Rd. The party promoter agreed to follow the Judge’s instructions,” stated the sheriff’s office on Facebook.
“Please avoid the area of FM 362 to avoid traffic due to people organizing parking in the approved pastures.”
This recent incident is not the first time that a shooter has opened fire at a university’s homecoming festivities. Last month, shootings at Bowie State and Morgan State, historically Black universities in Maryland, occurred during their respective homecoming events. Although the two incidents happened near each other, they were reported as unrelated.
