An 18-year-old woman shot and killed on the campus of Delaware State University on Sunday was considering transferring to the now-terrorized university as authorities search for the gunman, according to reports. .
Kamei Mitchell DeSilva was visiting the historically black college from Wilmington when she was killed in an early morning shooting. authorities said. Dover police said the girl, an innocent bystander, was struck in the upper body near the freshman dormitory and later died.
She visited at least one student who wanted to transfer to Delaware State. News Journal reported Tuesday.
She is currently attending Morgan State University in Baltimore, CBS Philadelphia reports.
Authorities are searching for multiple persons of interest, but no one has been arrested yet, the News Journal reported.
In the wake of this tragedy, the school has provided resources to students.
“We look forward to the suspect being arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible,” Tony Allen, the school’s principal, said at a forum Tuesday, according to the newspaper.
“And most importantly, most importantly, we are praying for the DeSilva family, a tragic event that we would never want to happen to any of us.”
Monday’s classes were canceled along with one student, fourth-grader Ashley Spence. tells CBS Philadelphia “The campus is a complete ghost town.”
“It really could have been one of us on campus,” sophomore Shaniya Durant said.
“I hope they sit there and have a serious conversation about how we move forward, because this was a completely unnecessary tragedy,” she said, also referring to school leaders.
Details about the motive for the shooting are still unclear.
Allen said ID access is required to enter the residence halls and campus gates at night, but both the main campus and the downtown area are accessible by foot in the community, the News Journal reported.
Campus police reportedly plan to increase security ahead of upcoming spring events, including commencement ceremonies.
Sophomore Jayden Palmer said he would like to see more security at the school.
“It’s easy for people to jump through the gates,” Palmer told CBS Philly. “It’s easy and easy to slip into saying you’re someone you’re not.”
