Pennsylvania Police Hunt for Answers After Deadly School Shooting

LOWER OXFORD TOWNSHIP, PA - Authorities have confirmed that at least one person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting that took place late Saturday night, October 25 at Lincoln University.

In a Sunday morning press conference, Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said that the shooting occurred outside the university's International Cultural Center during homecoming celebrations following a football game, ABC6 reported. "This is a devastating night," Barrena-Sarobe said. "It was a chaotic scene and people fled in every direction."

One person was detained and was in possession of a firearm, he said, adding that it is possible there might be another shooter. Officials do not believe that the incident was a planned mass shooting. "We are investigating with the full power of federal, state, and local law enforcement," Barrena-Sarobe said.

In an initial statement, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said that police had identified seven gunshot victims. "It's just so sad. It's traumatic, a little bit. We heard people got shot, got killed. You come out here to have a good time and you never expect for this to happen. It's very traumatic," said witness Ajia Hopkins. 

The university said in a statement that it would be offering counseling services for anyone in need of support. "We set this out to be a time to celebrate the legacy of Lincoln University, the first HBCU in the country," said Marc Partee, Lincoln University's director of public safety.

"Devastated. If there was another word to describe that, that's more impactful, I would use it. But devastated is a start," Partee added. FBI agents are on site, providing support to Chester County detectives as they continue their investigation into the incident, NBC10 reported.

A motive for the attack has yet to be determined. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact 1-800-CALLFBI. "This is particularly important because in this age of cell phones, people have videos. Digital evidence is key for us to putting this together and to be able to go back and hold the shooters accountable for what happened today," Barrena-Sarobe said.