Two 19-year-old men were injured in a shooting at Bowie State University on Saturday night, October 7, 2023, during the school’s homecoming celebrations.
The incident occurred near Henry Circle by the Center for Business and Graduate Studies around 11:45 pm. Bowie State University issued a shelter-in-place order for the campus, which was later lifted at 3 am. Both injured individuals were taken to the hospital following the incident.
In a news conference held Sunday morning, October 8, Maryland State Police stated that they had found one weapon at the scene. However, they suspect that there were multiple shooters involved in the incident. Further investigations are underway.
This incident closely follows a shooting at another primarily Black university. At Morgan State University, five people were injured, also during a homecoming event. Four of the injured have since been discharged from the hospital. Authorities clarified that the suspects in both incidents were not students of either Bowie State University or Morgan State University. The police are currently pursuing leads related to the incident.
In response to the events, Bowie State University officials announced the cancellation of Monday’s classes. The university holds the distinction of being Maryland’s oldest historically Black college and university. The community, students, and staff are hopeful for a resolution of the investigation.
