Sandy MaloneGrambling, LA – One person was killed and seven more were wounded when a gunman opened fire in the quad early on Sunday morning at Grambling State University early during homecoming festivities.
Grambling State University officials said the incident occurred at about 1:15 a.m. on Oct. 17 in the quad located between Monroe and Shreveport while an official homecoming event was taking place in a building nearby, NBC News reported.
“At the time of the incident, a homecoming event was underway in McCall Dining Center,” the university’s statement read. “All persons present sheltered in place and were released once the all-clear was given by University Police.”
The person who was killed was not a student at Grambling, NBC News reported.
“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 on Sunday. “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.”
Only one of the eight people shot in the quad during homecoming weekend was a student, FOX News reported.
Officials said the wounded student was transported to the hospital and treated for a non-life-threatening injury.
The school cancelled the remainder of the weekend’s planned homecoming activities as well as classes on Monday and Tuesday.
GramFam, now the is the time to be Unapologetically Unified as we rally to comfort one another after this morning’s incident. The campus has been cleared for normal operations, however, homecoming events scheduled for 10/17 have been canceled along w/classes on 10/18. pic.twitter.com/eTI0ssCOgI
— Grambling State Univ (@Grambling1901) October 17, 2021
The university also announced a campus-wide curfew from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice, NBC News reported.
Authorities have not yet identified a suspect in the homecoming weekend shootings, FOX News reported.
It was the second fatal shooting on the college campus in less than five days.
Louisiana State Police (LSP) issued a warrant on Friday for the alleged gunman in a shooting at Grambling on Wednesday, NBC News reported.
The Oct. 13 incident left 19-year-old Damarius Murphy dead and a 16 year old wounded.
None of the parties involved in that dispute were students at Grambling, either.
State police have identified 18-year-old Jatavious “Rabbit” Carroll as the suspect in Murphy’s killing, FOX News reported.
Carroll is wanted for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and possessing a weapon on school property.
Louisiana State Police are looking for Jatavious Carroll, a.k.a "Rabbit."
Carroll is a suspect in the October 13th shooting at Grambling State University. This shooting is separate and believed to be unrelated to the shooting that occurred today near the quad. pic.twitter.com/XqfyrovS0S
— Jonah Gilmore (@JonahMGilmore) October 17, 2021
Police said that investigators did not believe the shooting in the quad on Sunday was connected to the incident earlier in the week, NBC News reported.
Holly Matkin
