HBCU Homecomings 2025: Shootings at Lincoln, Howard, SCSU, Alcorn, and JSU. What’s Going On?
HBCU Homecomings are vibrant celebrations of Black culture, uniting alumni, students, and communities through tailgates, parades, and step shows. In 2025, however, gun violence cast a shadow over these traditions, with shootings at five HBCUs—Lincoln, Howard, South Carolina State (SCSU), Alcorn State, and Jackson State—leaving four dead and over a dozen injured. One victims was from Morgan State ... no identified suspects were HBCU students, faculty, or staff; most were visitors or locals caught in disputes.
October 25 Lincoln University
Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the nation's first degree-granting HBCU. Gunfire shattered a post-football tailgate outside the International Cultural Center around 9 p.m., killing 25-year-old Jujuan Jeffers from Wilmington, Delaware, a non-student visitor, and wounding six others aged 19 to 30 with non-life-threatening injuries. Chaos ensued as crowds scattered amid the festivities against Elizabeth City State University. Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe described a "chaotic scene" with multiple shooters suspected, but no mass casualty intent. One arrest: Zecqueous Morgan-Thompson, 22, from Wilmington, charged with carrying a concealed firearm without a license; his weapon's link to the shooting remains unconfirmed. The FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, and campus officers are sifting videos and tips via 1-800-CALL-FBI, with no further charges yet.
"As this remains an ongoing investigation, details may evolve over the next several days. We will continue to keep the Lincoln University community informed of any major updates as they become available. While these events deeply sadden us, we are committed to using all available resources to support our students, faculty, and staff as we heal and move forward together“
October 24 Howard University
On October 24 in Washington, D.C., five people—three adult men, one adult woman, and a 13-year-old boy—were shot near Howard University's Georgia Avenue and Howard Place during a Greek Step Show kickoff. All survived with non-life-threatening wounds; victims included a Morgan State University student but none from Howard. D.C. Police arrested two unnamed suspects after recovering three guns, attributing the gunfire to a street altercation. Chief Pamela Smith decried the intrusion: "We're not tolerating firearms in our cities during joyous occasions."
October 11 Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University's homecoming in Lorman turned deadly around 6:30 p.m. near the Industrial Technology Building. A woman, 29-year-old Brekyra Fisher from Vicksburg—a non-student—was killed, with two others hospitalized. No arrests; the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation leads, assisted by Claiborne County Sheriff's Office. That same evening, near Jackson State University's tailgate at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, a child was shot in the abdomen post-game against Alabama State. The young victim, a non-JSU affiliate, underwent surgery and stabilized. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones reported no suspects or arrests, urging tips amid the crowd's dispersal.
October 4 South Carolina State
South Carolina State University (SCSU) in Orangeburg, where two unrelated shootings post-football game killed 19-year-old Jaliyah Butler, a visiting non-student from Saluda, near Hugine Suites, and critically wounded a man off-campus. A third person was grazed. The university locked down, canceling its concert. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested 18-year-old Matthew Daniel McCoy, a non-student, for pointing and presenting a firearm plus unlawful carry on school grounds after witnessing an argument; he's not charged in the fatalities. The FBI joined the probe, believing the incidents targeted but senseless. Pre-event, seven weapon-related arrests occurred, including one for a loaded .45.
In response, HBCUs are stepping up their game against gun violence. Lincoln suspended classes for counseling, boosted 24/7 escorts, and alumni funded weapon-detection tech. Howard added MPD foot patrols, bag checks, and AI-monitored perimeters for its parade and Yardfest. SCSU implemented visitor registries, upgraded lighting/cameras, and trauma hubs, plus controlled entries from prior protocols. Alcorn mandated clear-bag policies, drone surveillance, and violence workshops, issuing shelter-in-place alerts. Jackson State expanded text alerts, community metal detectors, and off-campus sheriff collaborations, prioritizing youth safety. Nationally, HBCUs seek federal HBCU Capital Financing Program boosts for surveillance and mental health, transforming pain into fortified futures.
About the HBCUs
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania): Founded in 1854 as the first degree-granting HBCU, Lincoln University stands as a beacon of Black intellectualism in Chester County. Renowned for producing trailblazers like Thurgood Marshall, it offers diverse programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies, fostering a tight-knit community that emphasizes global citizenship and empowerment through its historic Vail Memorial Chapel and cutting-edge research initiatives.
Howard University (Washington, D.C.): Dubbed "The Mecca," Howard University, established in 1867, is a premier HBCU anchoring the nation's capital with its storied law, medicine, and journalism schools. Home to luminaries like Toni Morrison and Kamala Harris, it thrives on interdisciplinary excellence, vibrant Greek life, and the annual Yardfest, cultivating leaders who shape policy, culture, and justice worldwide.
Alcorn State University (Mississippi): As Mississippi's oldest HBCU, chartered in 1871 and named for Governor James Alcorn, this Lorman gem excels in agriculture, STEM, and nursing, boasting the nation's oldest HBCU marching band, the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite. Its 1,756-acre campus nurtures innovators through hands-on research at the extension service, embodying rural resilience and agricultural legacy.
Jackson State University (Mississippi): The urban heartbeat of HBCUs since 1877, Jackson State University in Mississippi's capital pulses with energy through its world-famous Sonic Boom of the South marching band and robust programs in engineering, education, and business. A Carnegie-classified R2 institution, it drives economic vitality, producing change-makers via community partnerships and the John W. Bardo Center for Innovative Leadership.
South Carolina State University (South Carolina): Established in 1896 as South Carolina's sole public four-year HBCU, SCSU in Orangeburg shines in nuclear science, business, and family services, honoring its aviation history with the Tuskegee Airmen connection. Its 160-acre campus fosters Bulldog pride through honors programs and the Early College program, empowering scholars to lead in STEM and public service.
