The idyllic campus of Delaware State University was shattered over the weekend when an 18-year-old woman was fatally shot in the area of freshman housing. The victim, whose identity has yet to be released, was not a registered student, according to a statement by university president Tony Allen.
Gunshots rang out around 1:40 a.m. on Sunday near Warren-Franklin Hall, the home of many first-year students. Officers responding to the scene found the victim with a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was rushed to an area hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Deadly Shooting Spurs Campus Concerns
“Violence of any kind, particularly gun violence, happens too often on college campuses…” Allen wrote in a letter to the community. “It does not make it acceptable, and it will never be rationalized away, minimized, or normalized here.”
Campus Safety Amid Rising Crime Concerns
The tragedy at Delaware State is the latest in a worrying trend of rising crime rates on college campuses. According to the latest statistics from the Department of Education, there were 38,303 reported criminal offenses at colleges and universities in 2022, a significant increase from the 21,200 reported incidents in 2020.
In his letter, Allen acknowledged this national upswing and emphasized the university’s commitment to safety. “Let me say that whoever believes that settling disagreements of any kind should be met with physical violence… is simply not welcomed here,” he wrote.
“An event that affects the safety of one of us affects all of us…
Manhunt Underway for Suspect
Dover police are actively investigating the shooting and are working to track down the suspect or suspects. Authorities have yet to release a description of the culprit(s).
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7130. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.
Call to Action for Campus Safety
While the university will resume classes on Tuesday, a forum will be held to address safety concerns and foster a dialogue between students, staff, faculty, and parents.
“We should pray for better days and pray for the safety and well-being of our campus as a whole,” Allen said.
As the investigation continues, Delaware State University is navigating the aftermath of this heartbreaking tragedy and working to restore a sense of safety and security among its community.
