CONWAY, S.C. — A student at Coastal Carolina University died after a shooting near the campus, and despite having no suspect in custody, there does not appear to be an immediate threat to others, school officials said Wednesday.
Anthony Darnell Liddell, 19, a sophomore from Bennettsville, died after the shooting around 7:20 p.m. Tuesday at a residence hall near the school's Conway, S.C. campus, Coastal Carolina University spokeswoman Martha Hunn said. Liddell was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach where he died.
The State Law Enforcement Division was leading the search and investigation, and agency spokesman Thom Berry said officers were still interviewing witnesses and trying to identify a suspect.
The school issued an alert using email and text messages around 8 p.m. and residence halls were locked down overnight. But there was no apparent threat to students, faculty or staff on campus, Coastal Department of Public Safety Police Chief David Roper said.
Classes were held as planned Wednesday and CCU Counseling Services professionals and ministers were to be on hand to provide assistance to students.
Kaitlin Eriksen, who lives at University Place residence hall, told The Sun News of Myrtle Beach she was inside her apartment when she heard four or five shots. Eriksen said she went to her balcony to see where the shots came from and saw a man fall against the back of a car's rear window.
"He took about two steps back and then collapsed. He just fell out there," Eriksen said.
CCU freshman Katrina Shuleski lives in University Place and said she went outside and saw dozens of people gathered.
"I just saw somebody laying on the ground," she said.
According to the school's website, University Place houses nearly 2,000 students.
Coastal Carolina University has an enrollment of more than 9,000 students. The liberal arts school was founded in 1954.
