UPDATE (10/10/23): Bowie State University has canceled classes beginning at 12 p.m., today for the rest of the week to provide time for everyone "to address their mental well-being." University administrators will meet with Student Government Association to discuss additional ways to support students during this time.
A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest.
Starting at 12 p.m. today, all classes for the rest of the week are cancelled to provide additional time for everyone to address their mental well-being. We encourage you to take this time to connect with resources, reach out to friends and loved ones, or seek support if needed. pic.twitter.com/hv16Xx3eSU
— Bowie State University (@BowieState) October 10, 2023
ORIGINAL STORY (10/8/23):
A shooting investigation is underway in Bowie.
Students at Bowie State University were enjoying the end of their homecoming week, but after the game on Saturday against Virginia State University, the campus was disrupted by a shooting.
At 11:45 p.m., Bowie State University Police were called for reports of shots fired in the area of Henry Circle near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies.
Two 19-year-old men, who are not students at the university, were shot outside the Center for Business and Graduate Studies.
“It was a little upsetting, of course, because that's not how we wanted our homecoming to end, but throughout the week, like President Breaux said, it was a very happy, joyful time. So, even though we did have this issue going on, I think the other events made up for it as well,” Nianna Perkins, SGA president, said.
Officials say a homecoming event was happening on campus at the time of the shooting, so multiple police agencies were already present. They did not give details about the event or if there was a large crowd on campus.
Police said there is no danger to the public.
“And so what we don’t want to do is to put this campus on lockdown 24/7 we're here to provide a quality, wonderful, enriching, and supportive nurturing experience for our students,” Aminta H. Breaux, Bowie State University president, said.
The university is now looking into new ways to upgrade overall campus safety for future events.
“Maryland State Police, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Bowie State University Police Department have always worked in unison to build the best package we can to protect the citizens and the students here. We have been doing that under a memorandum of understanding for over 20 years at this point. This is truly tragic, and we will build another package to make sure that people are safe,” Col. Roland L. Butler, Maryland State Police superintendent, said.
Police did not say how many suspects they are looking for, but they do believe there is more than one shooter.
