Authorities were searching for a suspected gunman, but police and
university spokesman Aaron Singleton would provide no identifying
details. The historically black school urged visitors to the campus to
stay away, but said student services were operating normally and that
classes will be held on regular schedules Monday.
The slaying victim was 19-year-old Anthony White Jr., a second-year
student from Charlotte, according to campus and Winston-Salem police.
A second student hit by gunfire received hospital treatment but was
released early Sunday, city police said. His name and condition were
being withheld.
White was studying information technology and though he was an
accomplished high school football player, he wanted to focus on his
studies rather than try for a spot on the college team, his mother said.
"He went academically because he wanted to do sciences, and the football
schedule wouldn't allow him" to do both, said Xavier Martin of
Charlotte.
White worked during holiday and summer breaks from college with his
uncle's landscaping business or doing handyman jobs, she said.
Martin said she didn't know whether her son's plans Saturday evening
included festivities related to the school's homecoming weekend or a
Halloween party.
"I don't know anything" about how he spent his final hours, she added.
Kiyah Graves, a 19-year-old sophomore, lived in the same dormitory as
White and said she knew him. She said she had just returned to her dorm
room when the campus sirens went off. She said she heard later that
there had been a shooting.
Graves described White as outgoing. She said she didn't have any classes with him.
"He was real chill, laid back," Graves said. "We spoke to each other.
That was it. We didn't like hang out or nothing like that, but when we
saw each other, we spoke."
The shooting was reported around 1:20 a.m. Sunday at a parking lot near
two dormitories. The campus was locked down for more than three hours
before the warnings against venturing outdoors were lifted at 4:50 a.m.
Winston-Salem State was founded in 1892 and touts itself as being one of
the first historically black colleges to grant elementary education
teaching degrees in 1925. The school, part of the public University of North Carolina system, is known for strengths in education and health sciences instruction.
It had been a festive atmosphere on campus on the weekend. There was an
installation ceremony for Chancellor Elwood Robinson on Friday, followed
by the homecoming football game Saturday.
Decorations marking the weekend's activities were still visible across
the campus on the city's east side. Light poles had signs announcing
homecoming and displaying the school's mascot logo attached to them,
while balloons were attached to entrances to several buildings. A few
students could be seen walking into the student center as skies were
gray and a light rain fell.
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