1 Dead Following Shooting Near SC State University

A Midlands woman was killed in a Sunday night shooting that caused South Carolina State University to temporarily close its campus.

Safiya Daniels, a 27-year-old Irmo resident, was fatally wounded in the shooting on Buckley Street in Orangeburg, the Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office said Monday in a news release. That’s 486 feet from the S.C. State campus. Daniels was taken to Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg where she died, the coroner’s office said. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.

An incident report from the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety said at least three other people were shot and injured in the incident that caused a “chaotic scene,” WLTX reported. Information on the conditions of the other shooting victims was not available.

Although the shooting happened at a house that’s not affiliated with S.C. State, one student from the university was among those who were shot, school officials said Monday afternoon. As of Monday morning, that student was in stable condition, while another S.C. State student was injured in a fall. Further information about that student’s condition was not available.

“The S.C. State community extends our deepest condolences to (Daniels’) family and to the students who were injured in this unfortunate situation,” S.C. State President Alexander Conyers said in a news release. There was no word on a shooter, or shooters, or a motive for the gunfire. No arrests have been reported. Following the shooting, Orangeburg County authorities advised S.C. State to shut down its campus late Sunday night.

The lockdown went into effect about midnight, and it was lifted at 2 a.m., officials said. During the lockdown no vehicles were permitted to enter or exit the campus and students were advised to remain inside their residence halls. Following the shooting, Conyers told campus police to have more officers on patrol Monday. After speaking with law enforcement Sunday night and key staff Monday morning, Conyers allowed classes to continue uninterrupted Monday. The university also has counselors on the campus for students who wish to speak with them.

“The safety of our students and employees continues to be our priority at S.C. State,” Conyers said. “We also are reminding students that they must be vigilant both on and off campus regarding their personal safety and to make good decisions about associations and social events.” S.C. State officials said Conyers will meet with the president of neighboring Claflin University and Orangeburg’s city administrator to discuss additional safety parameters at off-campus locations. Prior to this incident, Conyers approved a program to add six campus safety officers (not sworn police officers) to assist campus police with functions while serving as additional eyes and ears, according to the release. Over the summer, S.C. State began implementing Conyers’ $1 million initiative to upgrade lighting and security technology, particularly around residence halls and classroom buildings, university officials said. The effort includes the installation of 700 cameras — about 300 have already been installed — and 27 emergency call boxes across the campus, according to the release.