By Aleisha Robinson, Contributing Writer, MSU Spokesman
On Friday afternoon, Baltimore Police Commissioner Ricard Worley along with David Wilson, president of Morgan State University, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Morgan Police Chief Lance Hatcher delivered an update during a press conference about a campus shooting on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
It was confirmed that there were two active shooters. However, police had recovered three guns. No arrests have been made. The Baltimore Police department is offering $9,000 in cash reward for any information that may lead to the arrest of the individuals responsible for the shooting.
Four of the five of the individuals who were shot have been released from the hospital and are said to be in good condition despite the trauma they experienced.
“This morning I have personally spoken with four of the students and I can report that they are in good physical condition. They all experienced tremendous triumph and the university will provide immediate counseling for them when they are ready,” Wilson said.
A night that was supposed to be a celebration of the Mister and Miss Morgan State University Coronation saw a nasty turn of events when shots were reportedly fired on the university’s campus. The incident forced the school to make a difficult decision, which led to the cancellation of the Homecoming football game, pep rally, parade and tailgate. This has never been done in the history of the institution.
Hatcher has expressed that the safety of the community is of the utmost importance and significant security measures have been taken to enhance the safety of the university. He explained that his department will ensure that persons are properly vetted and determined to not be a danger when entering Morgan’s campus.
“Moving forward students will be required to have their student identification cards on them and security will be placed on campus as well as police presence at locations where we believe are major points of entrance on the campus,” Hatcher said. “We are an open campus and we want the outside community to have access to the campus, but it will now be a pretty thin line that they will have to walk on.”
Scott says he will not let Tuesday’s cowardly, reckless event overshadow the black excellence that is Morgan State University. He says his office of neighborhood safety and engagement has been on campus for the past three days working with the school and community members to advise their stabilization service.
“We will continue to do our part at the local level to take these illegal guns off the street, and hold the individuals who pull the trigger and sell those weapons on the street accountable,” he said. “ This cancer we know as gun violence is spreading and [has been] affecting Baltimore for a while, it’s time we address it.”
The university is set to reopen on Monday with increased security measures in place. Faculty members, staff and students will be asked to have their identification available to be checked.
Students who are not comfortable with returning to in-person classes will have the opportunity to complete their classes remotely or in a hybrid format until they are ready.
“We made a tough call on Wednesday of this week, it was not only to cancel classes but our homecoming activities. However there is one thing that will never be canceled, and that is the Morgan Spirit,” Wilson said. “We are not going to lose track of who we are, because we will always be Morgan Strong.”
