One person was detained following a deadly mass shooting at a historically Black university in eastern Pennsylvania.
The person held, Zecqueous Morgan Thompson, was apprehended while in possession of a firearm, according to local authorities, who said a second shooter may have been involved.
Authorities said they did not think the attack was premeditated.
A night of celebration turned to tragedy when gunfire broke out during homecoming festivities at Lincoln University, killing one person and wounding six others.
The shooting occurred outside the university’s International Cultural Center, where students, alums, and visitors had gathered for post-football game tailgating and socializing.
“We don’t have a lot of answers about exactly what happened,” Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe told reporters.
“What I will tell you is that today we’re operating as if this is not an incident where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus.”
Authorities described a chaotic scene as hundreds of people fled in multiple directions once shots rang out. Investigators are urging anyone with videos or information to contact Chester County detectives or the FBI, which is assisting with the investigation alongside state police.
Officials have not released the identities of the victims or their conditions.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on X, formerly Twitter, that he had been briefed on the shooting and offered state support to the Lincoln University community. “Join Lori and me in praying for the Lincoln University community,” Shapiro wrote.
Lincoln University Police Chief Marc Partee said the shooting has devastated the historically Black institution, located about 45 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
“If there was another word to describe that, that’s more impactful, I would use it,” Partee said. “But ‘devastated’ is a start.”
Classes at the university are cancelled today.
The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine a motive for the deadly attack.
