A campus safety message to parents from President Alexander Conyers
February 13, 2026
Dear Parents,
Yesterday evening, we experienced a tragic shooting at the Hugine Suites residential apartments on campus. A South Carolina State University student is currently hospitalized.
The University cannot release the identity of the student at this time. His condition has not been provided to the university.
The two deceased men were not students but were visiting the campus as guests of a student. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is handling this investigation, and the University is not able to release the identities of the victims.
Our prayers go out to the victims and their families who were impacted by this incident. We strive to provide a safe environment for our students and understand that recent gun-related crimes on campus could cause concerns for parents.
Please know that the safety of all University students is our priority and we continue to increase security measures beyond our existing policy prohibiting the possession or carrying of firearms on campus property. We will await the results of SLED’s full investigation and evaluate additional safety and security needs.
As many of you may know, a water pipe was impacted during last night’s incident. All students impacted by water damage are being relocated to alternate campus housing and campus auxiliary housing.
Early this morning, I met with SGA President Zaria Tucker, her Executive Board, and several other student leaders to discuss campus safety concerns. Students expressed concerns and committed to supporting the University. It was a very informative open dialogue between students and high-level university officials.
Campus is no longer on lockdown, and there are no known threats to campus. Classes are canceled through Monday, and all weekend activities are canceled. Saturday’s men's basketball game against Morgan State is postponed to Feb. 25.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of available counseling services provided by the University by calling the Office of Counseling and Self-Development Center at 803-536-8698. Students may also speak with a licensed counselor any time via TimelyCareMD at https://app.timelycare.com/auth/login.
The education and safety of all our students are important. The University fully supports SLED in this investigation and will continue to work to keep students safe. Parents are also able to subscribe to receive all campus emergency updates via the Rave Alert App.
Sincerely,
Col. (Ret.) Alexander Conyers 13th President South Carolina State University