By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

The Lincoln University campus, which was the scene of a festive Homecoming Weekend of celebration, turned violent on Saturday night Oct. 25 when shots began to ring out in the parking lot near the university’s International Cultural Center (ICC) Building, injuring six people and killing one person.

Officials have identified one of the suspects involved in the shooting as 21-year-old Zecqueous Morgan-Thompson, who is currently being held in the Chester County Prison on a $25,000 bail. He has been charged with carrying a firearm without a license.

“We cannot confirm however right now at this time whether or not that the gun that was found on him was used in the shooting,” said Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe at a press conference held by on Oct. 26.

Officials also said Jujuan Jeffers, a 20-year-old man from Wilmington, Del. has been identified as the deceased victim, who reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to his injuries. All six who were injured in the shooting – and were taken to Christiana Hospital for treatment of their injuries - fall in the age range of 20 to 25 years old and are expected to survive their injuries. 

On whether there may have been more than one shooter involved, de Barrena-Sarobe did not confirm or deny the suspicion but said “there is evidence that leads us to believe that that is a viable theory right now. We are investigating this as if there is possibly more than one shooter, and I use the word “shooters” because this is a very real and distinct possibility.”

de Barrena-Sarobe also said that the investigation may have reason to believe the suspect – or suspects - did not come to the campus with the intent to commit a mass shooting.

“We are operating under the belief that the shooter or shooters in this case did not come here with the specific design to cause a mass casualty event,” he said. “We believe that they would have operated differently, and so we’re treating this is a hooting that broke out in the middle of Homecoming.”

‘Devastated’

During an early Sunday morning press conference three hours after the shootings, de Barrena-Sarobe was joined by representatives from the Chester County Detectives, the University’s police department, the FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police in delivering the first statements regarding the investigation. He called the shooting “a devastating night in southern Chester County Lincoln University.”

“We don’t have a lot of answers about exactly what happened,” de Barrena-Sarobe said. “What I will tell you is that today we’re operating as if this is not an incident where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus.”

“This was to be a joyous occasion - Homecoming, when individuals come back and give back to their alma mater and relive the good memories of their time at Lincoln University, which has helped them propel into life, and this was interrupted by gunfire that should not have occurred,” said Lincoln University Police Chief Marc Partee at the press conference. “We are concerned for our students who had to experience this, our alumni who had to experience this, and our visitors and friends.

“If there was a more impactful word than ‘Devastated,’ I would use it, but ‘Devastated’ is a start.”

Information from a scanner traffic report provided a timeline of the incident from 9 p.m. until 11:48 p.m. that included victims being trampled during the incident and requiring medical attention, as well as a separate incident involving several men near the university’s football stadium:

9:00 p.m. Several police and EMS units arrived on the Lincoln University campus, 1570 Baltimore Pike. Police on scene report multiple gunshot victims at the ICC Building. 

9:17 p.m. EMS reporting at least three victims at this time, possibly more. Police units from all over the western part of Chester County begin to arrive on the scene. 

9:19 p.m. 12 EMS units dispatched and or on scene 

9:22 p.m. Active shots being heard at this time inside the building. 

9:33 p.m. Four victims reported. 

9:40 p.m. A Level 2 Mass Casualty (MCI) has been declared. Multiple additional EMS units now dispatched

9:40 p.m. Now confirmed: Five patients shot. Unknown at this time if any more. 

10:07 p.m. Several all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are dispatched to assist with transporting injured persons to the staging area. EMS units report that they are unable to get through due to traffic.

10:23 p.m. A medical helicopter has now been requested to the scene as well. 

10:29 p.m. Another possible gunshot victim just found, as well as multiple subjects that have been injured from being trampled. 

10:32 p.m. A large group of approximately 20 males now fighting in front of the stadium. 

10:41 p.m. Two helicopters enroute to the scene. 

10:47 p.m. Another disturbance now at the McDonalds/Wawa at 1849 Baltimore Pike 

11:48 p.m. Situation still ongoing 

Earlier, the campus was the site of a Homecoming Weekend of festivities that began on Oct. 23 with a Kick-Off pep rally and reception, followed by a Welcome Party at the Young Alumni Lounge on Oct. 24. The celebration continued on Oct. 25 with an alumni breakfast meet-and-greet event, followed by a tailgating and Yardfest event that began at 10 a.m. – all as a prelude to the Homecoming game between the Lions and visiting Elizabeth City State University at the university’s Dr. Frank “Tick” Coleman Field. A Homecoming worship service was also scheduled for Oct. 26 at the Mary Dod Memorial Chapel.

An official statement from Lincoln University President Dr. Brenda Allen was released to the public on Oct. 26.

“What occurred last night was tragic for our students, our families and our community,” the statement began. “Gun violence happens too far often in our country, and we are heartbroken that Lincoln University and its students are the latest victims of such senseless violence. An unfortunate incident occurred on our campus, and while more information will continue to be released, we want to assure you that the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and local, state and federal law enforcement partners are all actively investigating this matter. 

“The University is fully cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. As this remains an on-going 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.”

A private service was held for the Lincoln University community in the historic district between Vail and Amos halls on Oct. 27 “for a moment of reflection, connection and collective healing.” In addition, counseling services are being provided for students, faculty and staff. 

The morning after

On Oct. 26, just 12 hours removed from the shooting, the picturesque and historic Lincoln University campus was stilled to near silence and nearly devoid of students, save for a few who walked mostly alone on pathways, huddled in the company of their phones. The reminders of the previous day’s festivities still lingered – large white tents where alumni had gathered to celebrate their alma mater, signage that welcomed them back to campus, and festive autumn arrangements complete with flowers, pumpkins and hay bales were still proudly standing at the university’s entrance and football stadium main gate. 

Some students spoke on the condition that they would not be identified.

“It was scary and stressful,” one student said. “I didn’t really know what was going on, but when I found out what had happened, I was more shocked because of how this campus is. It’s very small and intimate and secluded, so to hear of something like that happening here is very upsetting.”

A second student said he was enjoying food from the food trucks near the post-Homecoming event at the ICC, when he heard someone tell him that “someone was shooting.”

“At first, I didn’t hear anything but two minutes later, I saw several students running toward us, and at that point, it clicked that something had happened,” he said. “I began to make sure all of my friends were together.” 

A third student recalled the chaotic scene.

“We were all just hanging out near the ICC listening to music and then we saw a crowd of people begin running, so that obviously means that you run,” he said. “We hopped over the gate as best as we could along with a crowd of people who were trying to do the same thing, but we really didn’t understand what was going on. No one did.”

At the intersection of four buildings, a mother of two college students stood alone. She said that she lives close enough to the university that she can hear its marching band from her back yard. Fifteen minutes after arriving, she had given ten hugs to students who were passing by her.

“My first reaction was to check in with the students that I am in regular contact with, to make sure they were safe,” he said. “When I knew they were, there was some guilt, because there were several other people who were not safe, according to the scanners I was listening to.

“I have two college students, and they were calling me to process this, because this our community that we love here. They are at different schools, and I just thought, ‘I can’t hug my own two kids who are upset today, but there are kids here who I can hug, who need their mother to hug them. 

“I didn’t even know if they would let me on campus, but I just thought I would try.”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].