Orangeburg, South Carolina — Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting inside a residence hall at South Carolina State University that left two students dead and another critically injured, prompting renewed national debate over campus safety and gun violence.

The incident occurred late Tuesday night at Hugine Suites, an on-campus dormitory, when gunfire erupted following what investigators described as a dispute that escalated into violence. Campus police responded within minutes, securing the building and placing the university under temporary lockdown as officers searched for suspects.

According to the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, two students were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim was transported to a regional trauma center, where they remain hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities have not yet released the victims’ names pending family notification.

University officials canceled classes for the remainder of the week and activated counseling and crisis-support services for students and staff. In a statement, South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers called the shooting “a heartbreaking act of violence that has shaken our campus community to its core.”

Law enforcement agencies, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), are assisting in the investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the shooting was targeted rather than random, though officials have not confirmed whether the suspect or suspects are in custody.

The tragedy has reignited longstanding national arguments over gun policy, particularly the presence of firearms near educational institutions. Gun-control advocates point to recurring campus shootings as evidence of insufficient regulation, while gun-rights groups maintain that lawful firearm ownership is not the root cause of such violence.

Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that while campus shootings remain relatively rare compared with other forms of gun violence, they carry outsized psychological and political impact due to their educational settings.

As investigators work to establish a timeline and motive, university leaders say their focus remains on supporting victims’ families and restoring a sense of safety on campus.