One person has been killed and another injured following a shooting incident at Worcester State University in Worcester, Massachusetts. The shooting occurred at around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday near a parking garage on campus. Students were immediately placed under a shelter-in-place order while authorities responded to the scene. The Worcester County District Attorney's Office has confirmed that neither the victims nor the suspects are students of the university.

Law enforcement officials have stated that the shooting was the result of a fight and not an active shooter situation. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early emphasized during a press conference that the individuals involved in the incident were acquainted with each other. The victims were transported to UMass Medical Center, where one tragically succumbed to their injuries. The second victim remains hospitalized, and their identities have not yet been released.

A person has been arrested near the scene on charges of trespassing and possession of a firearm, although the police have not confirmed if this individual is a suspect in the shooting. Early mentioned that the person did leave the area where the shooting took place.

The university initially asked students to remain in their residence halls until the shelter-in-place order was lifted at approximately 9:30 a.m. However, students are still advised to avoid the area where police are conducting their investigation. The Wasylean parking lot has been closed indefinitely. Worcester State University has also canceled all weekend activities, including homecoming and family weekend. The university's website states that counseling services are available to students in need.

Students expressed shock and disbelief that such an incident occurred on campus. Marcus Oliver, a student at Worcester State University, described feeling "in shock" and unable to process what had happened. Despite the shooting, Isaac Tyson, another student, stated that he still feels safe at school. However, some students mentioned that they might choose to go home for the weekend due to the cancellation of events and the shooting incident.

Authorities are requesting anyone with photographs or videos of the parking lot and surrounding areas to come forward and provide them to the police. Investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and officials are urging the community to assist in any way possible.

The incident at Worcester State University comes just days after a fatal shooting at a university in Maine, prompting heightened concerns about campus safety. Maureen Stokes, a communications official for the university, acknowledged that students feared the worst due to recent events and the shelter-in-place order.

Worcester State University, located approximately 40 miles west of Boston, has an open campus with no gates or locks. The university has around 6,200 enrolled students. Despite the tragedy, students are seeking support from counselors and residential life staff as they process the events that transpired. The university is uncertain about the length of the investigation and the potential outcome, but they have decided to uphold the cancellations as they may overlap with the ongoing police investigation.

The Massachusetts State Police, Worcester State University Police Department, and Worcester Police Department are jointly investigating the shooting. University officials are working closely with law enforcement agencies to provide updates and support to the affected students.