Morgan State University leaders have announced plans to build a wall around the campus after a mass shooting during homecoming week left five people, including four students injured.
The wall will encircle 90 percent of the HBCU campus and “eliminate unfettered access,” university President David Wilson said during a campus town hall on Tuesday.
“We’re doing this, let me be clear, not to keep out our neighbors and our community writ large; we are doing it to keep out the bad actors,” Wilson said.
In addition to the wall, other possible security upgrades include installing more metal detectors in campus buildings, exploring weapons detection technology, increasing police patrols, and building additional security guard booths. Wilson said that the anticipated cost is more than $22 million and that a proposal will be sent to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
During the town hall, Wilson also said that he spoke with injured students earlier that day and delivered a message one of them had for the university community: “Today may look grim but tomorrow is bright.”
According to the Associated Press, Baltimore Police said that they believe the violence stemmed from a dispute and involved two shooters and that the five victims likely were not intended targets. All the victims were released from local hospitals last week.
No arrests have been made, but Baltimore police have released surveillance images of two men believed to be in connection with the Oct. 3 shooting and asked the public for help identifying them.
Metro Crime Stoppers and ATF are offering a reward of up to $9,000 for a tip leading to an arrest and charges filed. Anyone with information is urged to contact Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
