South Carolina State University Shooting: 2 Dead, 1 Wounded

February 13, 2026 – Two people were killed and one injured in a shooting at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, late Thursday night, prompting a campus lockdown that stretched into the early hours of Friday.

The shooting occurred at the Hugine Suites, a student residential complex on the university campus. University officials reported the incident and initiated a lockdown at approximately 9:15 p.m. Local time, according to a university news release. As of early Friday morning, the lockdown remained in effect as investigators continued their work.

Details surrounding the shooting remain scarce. The university has not yet released the identities of the victims, nor has it provided an update on the condition of the individual who was wounded. Law enforcement officials have also not disclosed any information regarding potential suspects.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is leading the investigation, with officers actively patrolling the campus and surrounding areas. The university has canceled all classes for Friday and is making counseling services available to students affected by the incident.

This latest shooting comes less than four months after two separate incidents on the SC State campus in October. Those events resulted in one fatality and another injury, raising concerns about safety and security at the historically Black university.

The location of the shooting, Orangeburg, carries a somber historical weight. In 1968, the city was the site of the Orangeburg Massacre, where nine highway patrolmen and one city police officer opened fire on a crowd of African American students protesting racial segregation. Three students were killed and twenty-eight others were injured in that incident, marking the first instance of police killing student protestors at an American university. The events of 1968 remain a sensitive and significant part of the city’s history and the broader narrative of the Civil Rights Movement.

South Carolina State University has a student population of approximately 2,800. The university’s response to the shooting, including the immediate lockdown and cancellation of classes, reflects a heightened awareness of campus safety concerns in the wake of recent events.

The shooting is likely to reignite debate about gun violence on college campuses across the United States. While statistics on campus shootings vary, the issue has become increasingly prominent in recent years, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and stricter gun control policies. The incident at SC State will undoubtedly contribute to this ongoing national conversation.

The university has not indicated when the lockdown will be lifted, and further updates are expected as the investigation progresses. The focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff, and providing support to those affected by this tragic event.

The incident also raises questions about the broader context of violence in the region. While details are still emerging, the shooting will likely prompt a review of security protocols at SC State and other institutions of higher learning in South Carolina. The long-term implications of this event, both for the university community and the wider region, remain to be seen.