A shooting incident at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina early Sunday resulted in one fatality and six injuries. The incident took place at approximately 12:30 a.m. on April 27, 2025, following a Yard Fest event linked to the university’s Viking Fest celebration.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) identified the deceased as Isaiah Caldwell, a 24-year-old from Albany, New York. Caldwell was not affiliated with ECSU but was visiting the campus and was a member of the Groove Phi Groove social fellowship.
According to a statement from the university, four individuals sustained gunshot wounds, with three being ECSU students. Two more students were injured amid the subsequent turmoil. None of the injuries were deemed life-threatening, and all affected individuals received treatment at a local hospital.
Sara Hill, a volleyball team member at ECSU, was among the injured. Hill described the chaos when the shooting began. She was in proximity to the shooter and fled, later realizing she had been shot in the hip. Two ECSU football players were also injured during the incident.
Mark Hurlbut, a student at ECSU, recounted hearing the gunfire from his dorm. “I heard the gunshots through my window and through the walls,” Hurlbut stated. “Campus honestly didn’t send out any alerts of any kind until maybe 20-30 minutes after it happened. I didn’t think nothing of it, but then it finally clicked. This happened right outside my door.”
Zion Upchurch, another student, shared with local media that the events deeply affected him. Having left the area moments before the shooting, he heard the shots from his dorm and expressed sorrow over the loss of life, particularly since the deceased was not a student.
Following the incident, ECSU enforced a campus lockdown and issued a shelter-in-place order for students. The lockdown was lifted later that day after authorities deemed the campus secure.
In response, ECSU canceled classes through Tuesday, April 29, transitioning to remote learning for the remainder of the semester, which concludes on Friday. Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds conveyed condolences to those affected and highlighted the resilience of the ECSU community.
Counseling services have been made available for students, faculty, and staff. On-campus counseling began Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center, with additional support available during after-hours.
Security measures have been heightened across the campus, featuring increased patrols and restricted access to central areas.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigation, including the ECSU Police, Elizabeth City Police, Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Reports indicate that people of interest have been identified, though no arrests have been made as of April 29.
The SBI is examining social media videos from the event and has solicited public assistance for any information, videos, or pictures that might aid the investigation. Some students and parents have expressed frustration over the limited information released by the university and law enforcement.
The ECSU shooting occurs amid ongoing discussions on gun safety in North Carolina. Advocacy groups note an increase in mass shootings and gun-related deaths since the state’s repeal of its permit-to-purchase law in 2023.
Those with information about the shooting are encouraged to contact the ECSU Police at 252-335-3266. The investigation is active as authorities work to ascertain the circumstances of the shooting and identify those responsible.
