COLUMBIA, S.C. — Campus and Columbia police are searching for a suspect accused of opening fire near the University of South Carolina early Sunday morning.
According to an alert put out by the university's Carolina Alert system, around 1 a.m., several people were involved in a fight at Park Place Columbia, a campus-affiliated residential complex near the corner of Huger and Blossom streets.
The fight then spilled out into the roadway according to preliminary reports and about six or seven shots were fired. The suspect then ran from the scene toward another student apartment complex, Greene Crossing, located on the north side of Blossom Street.
In a statement from the University of South Carolina to parents, officials said that the fight happened in the street adjacent to the Park Place parking garage.
At 1:55 a.m., police said that they had canvassed the area and did not believe the suspect was still there. Despite the gunfire, no injuries were reported and the incident is now being investigated by both campus police and the Columbia Police Department.
A spokesperson for the Columbia Police Department said they are handling the part of the incident that spilled into the roadway. Campus police are handling what unfolded on the property of the student apartment building.
In their statement to parents, University officials thanked those who saw and quickly reported the incident as well as the police who responded immediately.
The university added that mental health support is available to students at any time at 833-664-2854 or on the university's mental health website.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
