Campus Alert Archive
SC State

12:30 AM at Hugine Suites: Former Student Fires Into a Crowd at SC State, Wounding One in an HBCU Dorm Shooting

SCshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On March 3, 2023, a shooting occurred at approximately 12:30 AM EST at the Hugine Suites dormitory at South Carolina State University, when a former student fired a gun into a crowd of students, striking one person in the leg. The university issued an immediate alert and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division later charged the suspect.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
South Carolina State University
Hbcu · SC
~2,500 studentsBulldog News / Rave Guardian
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPush
Approximate reconstruction138 chars
SC STATE ALERT: Shots fired at Hugine Suites. Shelter in place immediately. Avoid the area. Law enforcement is on scene and investigating.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from local media coverage of the incident
The shooting occurred at the Hugine Suites dormitory at approximately 12:30 AM EST
The university emergency alert system was activated instructing students to shelter in place
ALL CLEARPush
Approximate reconstruction197 chars
SC STATE UPDATE: The shelter in place has been lifted. One person was injured and transported to the hospital. SLED and campus police are investigating. Report any information to University Police.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from news coverage
SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) was brought in to assist campus police with the investigation
The victim suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg
Context

Background

At approximately 12:30 AM EST on March 3, 2023, a shooting occurred at the Hugine Suites dormitory on the campus of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. A former student fired a gun into a crowd of students, striking one person in the leg. The victim was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The university's emergency alert system was activated, instructing students to shelter in place while campus police and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigated. A former SC State student was subsequently charged in connection with the shooting. The incident was part of a concerning pattern of gun violence on HBCU campuses that prompted the university to invest in security upgrades, including weapons-detecting cameras, license plate readers, and additional emergency poles. Tragically, SC State would experience additional deadly shootings in subsequent years, leading to further security overhauls.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooter was a former student who fired into a crowd at a campus dormitory, highlighting challenges with access control for former students
SLED was brought in to assist with the investigation, indicating the severity of the campus shooting
SC State subsequently invested in weapons-detecting technology and expanded security infrastructure
Outcome
One male student was shot in the leg and treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. On October 24, 2024, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested 21-year-old Melvin Anthony Williams, a former SC State student, and charged him with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. SLED also arrested Daniel Eugene Hutto, 20, charging him with accessory before the fact to attempted murder. The university enhanced security measures following the incident.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Former SC State student charged in 2023 campus shooting (WRDW)
    wrdw.com
  2. News
    Teen victims identified in SC State shooting (Post and Courier)
    postandcourier.com
  3. News
    SC State University ramps up security measures (JBHE)
    jbhe.com
Tags
shootinghbcudormitoryformer-studentsouth-carolinacampus-securitysled-investigation
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion