ORANGEBURG, S.C. — On Friday, Claflin University identified the victim who survived after he was shot in the head while driving.
Dr. Leroy Durant is the Vice President for Student Development and Services at Claflin, where the school says he’s worked for 22 years.
On Wednesday night, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) says he was shot in the head while driving. Now, Durant is recovering.
“He's a people-person,” Claflin staff member Lindsay Greene said of Durant.
Her coworker, Latoya Green, added. “You could tell he loved the students.”
The two women say Durant is “steadfast” and “unmoveable,” giving 22 years of service to the school.
“Shocking,” Green said of learning Durant had been shot.
“Very shocking, hurtful,” Green said. “Sad. We just saw him that morning.”
Nassia Addison is a junior psychology major at Claflin and says students received an email about the incident.
“I’m just glad he’s safe. I mean, he's okay now,” Addison said. “Thank God. People pass away every day. Some people don’t even wake up, so to get grazed by a bullet, and he still be alive? That’s crazy.”
News19 requested a copy of the incident report from OCSO, which says Durant told police he was leaving a program at Claflin University on Wednesday evening when he turned onto Belleville Road from Chestnut Street.
The report said Durant told police, “he heard a loud noise and started feeling lightheaded and dizzy. Then noticed blood coming from his head, so he drove himself to MUSC Orangeburg.”
There, “nurses were saying the bullet was a through and through,” according to the report.
In a statement from Claflin University, the school says Durant was treated at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and released.
"Durant is a long-time administrator at Claflin, serving the University and the Orangeburg community for more than 22 years. His priorities have always been the safety and welfare of Claflin students," a university spokesperson wrote in a statement. "The Claflin community, his family, and friends are praying for Dr. Durant's speedy recovery."
“It’s just flat-out unbelievable,” Ronnie Fields, who was born and raised in Orangeburg, shared. “It’s crazy. I am speechless. I am speechless and stuff like that ‘cuz I can't believe something like that would happen.”
Fields says this incident, which happened near South Carolina State University and Claflin, is concerning.
“Because this is two colleges. This is two colleges right here on this corner. This shouldn't be happening here. Well, it shouldn't be happening at all, but it definitely shouldn't be happening in this area,” Fields said. “We need more lights in the surrounding area. We need more lights, and we need more patrol.”
Addison agrees, saying the Claflin campus would benefit from more lighting and more communication between the Claflin Police and OSCO.
According to a spokesperson for OSCO, this incident occurred off-campus and was in OSCO’s jurisdiction.
“I feel like Orangeburg isn't very safe in general,” Addison said. “Because, like, not too long ago, my car just got broken into. Yes, like the beginning of this week, I just got my windows fixed.”
The sheriff's office is investigating the shooting.