Tuskegee University officials report that multiple people were injured at an “unauthorized party” early Sunday morning at the university’s West Commons housing complex.
The university said two campus visitors were shot and two students were hurt while trying to leave the scene. According to a release from Frank H. Lee, director of the Macon County Emergency Management Agency/Department of Homeland Security, one of the shooting victims was treated and released from an area hospital, and another had life-threatening injuries.
The Tuskegee University Police Department is working with local law enforcement agencies as part of the investigation.
In light of the incident, the university canceled classes on Monday and encouraged students to utilize the counseling resources available to students.
“This is a time for us to work together to support each other and our students as One Tuskegee,” Tuskegee University President Charlotte P. Morris said. “I thank the entire campus community for pulling together to ensure the well-being of our students and providing the resources they need.”
One student who was at the party, Mechel Winters, detailed the incident to the Alabama news station, WSFA.
She recalled herself and others tripping and getting hurt in the panic to escape. “I just expected it to be a safe place because we are on campus, and there should be security measures in place,” she said.
Winters, and another Tuskegee University student, Indya Whitaker, both took issue with the university’s “unauthorized party” claim.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Walker, who claimed to be one of several injured at the party, said “We never have had to, but now the university wanna blame us so parents don’t blame campus police and security to save face for the school.”
Winters shared this sentiment, saying, “Them saying that the party was unauthorized to kind of switch the blame unto us, it’s crazy because even if it was an authorized party, with the security measures we have in place, the same thing could have happened.”
