One victim has tragically passed away and another has been swiftly taken into surgery following a shooting incident that took place at a parking lot in Worcester State University, Massachusetts. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, as stated by authorities. It is important to note that neither the victims nor the suspected assailants are affiliated with the university, according to a spokesperson for the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
Worcester, located about 40 miles west of Boston, has been shaken by this appalling incident.
Following the shooting, university officials promptly issued a shelter-in-place order for the safety of all individuals on campus. The order was only lifted at around 9:30 a.m., but a significant police presence remains in the area to ensure ongoing security.
Maureen Stokes, a communications official for the university, shared, “Students heard the sound of gunshots, followed by the arrival of an ambulance to transport the two injured individuals. At that point, the police secured the surrounding area and determined that there was no immediate danger to the campus.”
Further details regarding the incident reveal that the two injured individuals were transported to UMass Medical Center. Tragically, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. confirmed the death of one of the victims. It’s worth noting that authorities have already taken one person into custody shortly after the shooting and recovered a firearm. However, this individual is currently facing charges related to trespassing and firearms offenses only.
Early emphasized that this shooting does not appear to be a random act and that all parties involved are believed to be acquainted with each other.
The shooting occurred within a parking lot situated in the upper campus of the university, located between the student dormitories named Wasylean Hall and Sheehan Hall, as explained by Stokes. The district attorney’s office is urging anyone with valuable information, photographs, or video footage related to the dormitories to provide it to the Massachusetts State Police, university police, or Worcester police.
Stokes mentioned that some students have already submitted videos to the police, as they had heard gunshots coming from the dormitories.
She added, “Initially, the students were informed that an incident had occurred and were advised to shelter in place. Given the recent events in Maine within the past 72 hours, it’s reasonable for individuals to be concerned about the worst-case scenario.”
There are approximately 6,200 enrolled students at Worcester State University. The campus remains open and accessible to all and is not enclosed by gates or locked entrances.
On Saturday morning, the university announced the cancellation of homecoming, family weekend, and all scheduled university events for the day. Stokes clarified that the university is uncertain about the outcomes and duration of the investigation, therefore the cancellations will not be retracted. This decision was made to avoid potential clashes between vendors setting up for events and the ongoing police investigation.
A collaborative investigation involving state, university, and city police is underway.
Stokes shared, “Upon lifting the shelter-in-place order, students expressed an eagerness to be outdoors. Counselors and residential life students are present and available for discussions with the students.”
This story was originally published on NBCNews.com.
The original article can be found on TODAY.com.
