BALTIMORE, MD – A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with the mass shooting that took place at Morgan State University in Baltimore on October 3, leaving five people injured. The Baltimore Police Department announced the arrest on Friday, revealing that the suspect faces multiple counts of attempted murder.
The teenager was apprehended without incident on Thursday, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation. However, a warrant has been issued for another suspect, 18-year-old Jovan Williams, who is still at large and considered to be armed and dangerous, according to the police.
The identities of the shooters were established through surveillance footage obtained from the scene of the shooting. Commissioner Richard Worley expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts that led to the arrest and stated that the search for Williams would continue until he is in custody.
The shooting occurred during a popular homecoming week event, adding to the concerning statistics of mass shootings in the United States this year. As reported by the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 543 mass shootings with at least four victims in the country so far in 2023. Additionally, this incident is one of 17 shootings reported at U.S. colleges or universities this year, including incidents in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Michigan.
The shooting at Morgan State University prompted students and teachers to shelter in place for several hours while a SWAT team thoroughly searched the campus dormitories. The university has approximately 9,000 enrolled students.
The mayor has stated that, at this stage of the investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that the shooting was racially motivated, although the inquiry is still ongoing.