Four people were shot early Saturday morning at Delaware State University outside the Wellness and Recreation Center, according to a university alert.
In an email sent six hours later to faculty, staff and students, DSU President Tony Allen said two students were injured.
All four people shot were all taken to Bayhealth Hospital’s Kent Campus, and the university has not yet provided any updates on their condition.
Dover Police Department spokesperson Master Cpl. Ryan Schmid said Dover police officers were called to DSU at 1:18 a.m. to help respond to the shooting, which is under investigation by the DSU Police Department.
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“Our role at the campus was scene security and rendering aid to the victims,” Schmid said.
The DSU emergency alert said the shooting was part of a robbery, but there were no suspects as of 5:21 a.m. — the time the alert was sent. The alert also stated that the shooting occurred at 1:45 a.m.
DSU police have not responded to requests for comment.
“We will pursue justice in this matter,” Allen said in his email. “Our commitment to ourselves and each other leads us to respond to any challenge made against our collective and individual senses of security.”
Allen wrote that DSU is “committed to creating and maintaining a safe campus environment,” and will hold a “forum” Tuesday to provide updates and hear from the community.
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Saturday’s home football game, slated for 2 p.m. against Lincoln University, will go on as planned, but Allen said there will be increased security. People were already tailgating Saturday morning ahead of the game, and people could be seen milling around campus.
Allen encouraged email recipients to “come together in solidarity as (they) cheer on our student-athletes, coaches, and staff.”
There was also a home volleyball game, the Hornet Invitational, that went on as planned at noon Saturday.
Parents of students who witnessed the shooting posted on social media that students were out playing basketball early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted. One student was pistol-whipped, according to multiple accounts.
A parent of one DSU student who did not want to be identified but spoke to their child about the incident said that one student was shot and had his shoes stolen. They were also told that shots were fired into a crowd of students.
University spokespeople did not respond to multiple attempts to confirm this information.
Three men could be seen scrubbing a part of the basketball court outside the Wellness and Recreation Center midday Saturday but none would provide further information.
“DSU needs better security,” the parent said.
This is a developing story. Check back with Delaware Online for updates.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
