Two Killed in Dorm Shooting at SC State – Arrest Made as Campus Tightens Security

Aiman Tariq – Regional News Editor

Columbia, SC –

According to police, two men—neither of whom officials said was enrolled at South Carolina State University—were killed, and a South Carolina State University student was wounded in a late-night shooting inside a dorm room, prompting an hours-long lockdown and a renewed focus on campus security at the Orangeburg school.

The shooting happened around 9:15 p.m. Thursday at the Hugine Suites residential complex, according to university alerts and law enforcement statements reported by multiple outlets.

A campus lockdown was initiated shortly after the report of gunfire. Students were instructed to shelter in place while officers from the university’s Department of Public Safety and local agencies responded.

The lockdown was lifted early Friday morning. Classes were canceled, and at least one athletic event was postponed.

Victims Identified; One Student Injured

Authorities later identified the two men who were killed as Henry L. Crittington, 19, who died at the scene, and Terrell Thomas, 18, who died at a hospital, according to reporting carried by South Carolina Public Radio.

Officials said neither of the two men killed were enrolled at South Carolina State University.

A third man who was injured in the shooting is a student at the university, officials said. His name and condition were not widely released in initial reports.

Investigators said the shooting occurred inside a dorm room in the Hugine Suites housing complex. A police report referenced in coverage indicated that two women were also in the room at the time. Authorities have not publicly detailed what led to the gunfire.

Arrest Announced; SLED Leads Investigation

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, or SLED, is leading the investigation.

Authorities later charged 18-year-old Khamanti Lytrel Kennedy of Cordova, the suspect identified by investigators, with murder in connection to the case, according to statehouse reporting. As of the latest updates, Kennedy remained in custody at the Orangeburg County jail.

Investigators have said they allege the shooting stemmed from a marijuana sale, based on law enforcement statements and court records cited in coverage. That information comes from law enforcement statements and court records cited in coverage. Prosecutors will ultimately have to prove the allegations in court.

Officials also said Kennedy previously faced a charge filed last October for carrying a weapon on campus. Court records cited in reporting indicate that charge was separate from the current case.

The investigation remains active.

This case is now a central focus for South Carolina state law enforcement, not only because of the fatalities but because it follows another deadly shooting near the same housing complex last fall.

Second Fatal Shooting This School Year

The latest violence comes roughly four months after a 19-year-old woman was killed during homecoming weekend near the Hugine Suites complex. A separate shooting during the same weekend left a man injured. Several arrests were made in those incidents.

University officials had already announced increased fencing along the campus perimeter and expanded patrols after the homecoming shootings.

Following the most recent shooting, President Alexander Conyers acknowledged the toll the repeated incidents have taken on students and families.

“Our campus is grieving,” Conyers said in remarks reported by media outlets. He told parents and students that the university is committed to strengthening safety measures.

The university also made counseling services available to students and canceled classes through Monday.

Lockdown and Immediate Response

According to university alerts, the lockdown lasted roughly eight hours.

During that time, officers from the South Carolina State University Department of Public Safety, the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office patrolled the campus.

A campus alert sent shortly after 5 a.m. Friday announced that the lockdown had been lifted. Authorities said there was no longer an active threat.

Officials did not initially release details about the suspect or any arrest, and the murder charge was announced later as the investigation progressed. The arrest was announced later as the investigation progressed.

Incidents involving a South Carolina shooting on a college campus typically draw rapid multi-agency response. In this case, local police and county deputies assisted campus officers before SLED assumed control of the investigation.

Security Measures Expanded

In the days after the shooting, university officials announced additional security steps.

Among the changes:

Students must enter campus through designated gates.
Guests must use separate entry points.
Identification checks will be increased.
Vehicle monitoring and license plate scans will be expanded.
Random vehicle searches may be conducted.
A visitor curfew has been implemented.
Additional dorm room searches for drugs and weapons will be carried out.

President Conyers said the university would “significantly reduce access” to campus, while noting that it remains a public institution.

Large events will require tickets, clear bags, and security screenings.

The university also reiterated earlier efforts to improve lighting, expand camera coverage, and strengthen perimeter fencing.

The Hugine Suites complex already houses a police substation opened after last fall’s violence. The station includes camera monitors and officers assigned to patrol the area.

Staffing and Resource Challenges

Campus safety has been a topic of discussion at the State House in recent months.

The university’s police chief previously told lawmakers that the department has about a dozen full-time officers but needs more to provide consistent coverage. Officers have reportedly worked extended shifts, and the university has relied on outside security firms for additional patrols.

The school requested additional funding to hire more officers, though legislators did not fully approve that request in the most recent budget cycle.

House budget writers did include funding for a new campus police station and additional fencing in early drafts, though final allocations may change as the budget process continues.

These staffing challenges add context to the latest shooting in South Carolina, particularly at a campus that has experienced repeated gun violence within a short span.

Lawmakers Weigh In

State Rep. Hamilton Grant, a graduate of the university, said in a statement that lawmakers should examine state laws that allow firearms to be kept in locked vehicles on college campuses.

Grant said those laws can provide quick access to weapons if situations escalate.

South Carolina law allows certain individuals to keep firearms secured in vehicles on campus under specific conditions.

The latest incident has renewed debate over whether existing policies are sufficient.

Campus History and Community Impact

Founded in 1896, South Carolina State University enrolls roughly 2,900 students and is the state’s only public historically Black university.

The campus recently marked the anniversary of the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre, when officers opened fire on students protesting segregation, killing three young men. That history remains significant in the university’s identity.

The recent violence has shaken a campus community already carrying that legacy.

University leaders have emphasized that safety efforts will continue. Trustees met following the shooting to discuss next steps, though no detailed public plan was immediately released.

The Bottom Line

Two men are dead and a student is recovering after a late-night shooting inside a dorm room at South Carolina State University.

An 18-year-old has been charged with murder, according to investigators, and SLED continues to lead the case.

The university has lifted its lockdown but canceled classes, expanded security checks, tightened gate access, and imposed new visitor restrictions.

The latest shooting at South Carolina State marks the second fatal campus shooting this school year, intensifying scrutiny of security policies and enforcement.

As the criminal case moves through court, the university faces a separate challenge: restoring confidence among students and families after another deadly incident on campus.

Authorities say there is no ongoing threat. The investigation remains active.