1 dead, 6 injured in shooting at Lincoln University homecoming festivities

One person was killed and six were injured in a late-night shooting Oct. 25 at Lincoln University in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

The gunfire erupted just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the university’s International Cultural Center, where students and alumni had gathered for homecoming festivities.

Investigators have not yet determined if there was more than one shooter. One armed person was taken into custody, but investigators are not saying if that person is a suspect.

“It was a chaotic scene and people were running everywhere,” said Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe during a 1:00 a.m. press conference. He confirmed the fatality and multiple injuries but said details remain scarce.

Investigators said they have identified the victims, but have not yet released information about them, including whether any of them were students.

The FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and Lincoln University Police Department are involved in the investigation. Authorities say more information will be released as the investigation continues Oct. 26.

A motive for the shooting is not known at this time, investigators said.

“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,” de Barrena-Sarobe said. “We’re collecting ballistic evidence and going through that evidence now.”

The shootings occurred during what Lincoln Police Chief Marc Partee described as a tailgate celebration “where we gather, we meet friends that we’ve seen, haven’t seen for years, reconnect, share stories, things of that nature.”

The HBCU university’s homecoming game against Elizabeth City State University was played earlier that afternoon.

“This was to be a joyous occasion − homecoming, when individuals come back and they give back to their alma mater, and they relive the good memories of their times at Lincoln University,” Partee said. “This was interrupted by gunfire that should not have occurred, and we are concerned for our students who had to experience this, our alumni who had to experience this, and our visitors.”

Outside the campus gates the following morning, the only visible sign of the tragedy was ribbons of caution tape fluttering in the breeze.

Access to the campus is restricted. Every vehicle is being stopped, and only students and their parents are being allowed entry.

Students who have ventured out beyond the school grounds say the atmosphere on campus is tense and subdued.

Sani Freeman, 20, who was visiting friends and her sister, a student at Lincoln, described the campus as eerily quiet. She and senior Jiles Ebai had just left the parking lot minutes before the gunfire erupted.

“We heard it, but we didn’t know what was going on,” Ebai said. “Then we saw people running.”

Lincoln University senior Jiles Ebai talks about fatal campus shooting

Lincoln University senior Jiles Ebai talks about campus shooting that left 1 dead, 6 hurt

Ebai said he doesn’t believe the shooter was a student at the school. “Why would we mess our homecoming up?” Raheem Henderson, a sophomore who did not attend the homecoming events, was dropped off at the entrance and expressed concern about campus safety.

“I think it’s sad,” Henderson said. He added that he believes future homecomings should be canceled or have better security.  

Lincoln University is located along Baltimore Pike in Lower Oxford Township, Pennsylvania. It was one of the nation’s first historically Black colleges and universities. It enrolls nearly 2,000 students.  

Investigators are urging anyone with information, photos, or videos from the scene to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

This story will be updated.

To share your community news and activities with our audience, join Delaware Voices Uplifted on Facebook. Nonprofits, community groups and service providers are welcome to submit their information to be added to our Community Resources Map. Contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.