ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - Nearly two weeks after two shootings during South Carolina State University's homecoming left one student dead and another critically injured, the university has announced plans for security improvements while the investigation continues.
Jaliyah Butler, 19, was killed in one of the shootings while visiting campus. A man was critically injured in the other shooting.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is leading the investigation, has not responded to requests for information about arrests or suspects connected to the shootings.
Students expressed mixed emotions about the university's announced safety improvements.
"Personally, I feel like it shouldn't have taken this long for the school to get a wake-up call to implement all these different security measures," said Tyreke McAfee, a student.
Other students welcomed the changes.
"I was great to hear the new ideas they're coming up with. It was reassuring, and I do feel safe on campus," said Bellajoy Irving, a student.
Nehmiah Ashley, another student, said he has already noticed increased security presence.
"We actually have more patrol security, especially around our dorms, and especially at night. So I'm seeing more of them patrolling," Ashley said.
The university announced plans to increase law enforcement patrols and repair old and damaged fencing around the campus perimeter by mid-November.
McAfee said these problems directly contribute to safety concerns.
"When we had our shootings and people were knocking on doors and stuff, that was a security risk. And they came through that back way through Claflin. So I feel like something needs to happen," McAfee said.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has not provided information on possible suspects. The FBI is assisting SLED with a video tip website where people can submit videos from the homecoming shooting for video enhancement.
The FBI said they have received a number of videos but would not share additional information.
Derek Shoemake, former US Attorney for South Carolina, said the lack of public information may be intentional.
"If they're sitting on something, it's because they think that's what public safety requires," Shoemake said.
Shoemake said SLED's request for FBI video enhancement assistance likely helps speed up the process. He said providing too much information could be costly in the investigation.
"To be clear, SLED has a state-of-the-art forensics laboratory for digital forensics. But it just isn't the same size and scope that you're going to have up in Quantico," Shoemake said.
He said both agencies may be working on the videos simultaneously and that keeping information limited prevents suspects from learning details that could interfere with apprehension and evidence collection.