Update: Coastal Carolina University student died in shooting; police seek public’s help to ID suspect

Horry County Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick identified the victim of a deadly shooting near Coastal Carolina University Wednesday night as 21-year-old Craig Gerard Gray, Jr.

Coastal Carolina University spokesman Doug Bell said Gray was a sophomore student of the university and was majoring in computer sciences. Gray came to the school from Blythewood.

The news of Gray’s death spread through campus with a message Thursday morning from Dr. Deborah Conner, a vice president of campus life and student engagement at Coastal Carolina.

“It is with great sadness that we notify you of the death of Craig Gerard Gray,” Conner said, referring any students who may need support to call the school’s counseling services office at 843-349-2305.

Police were called to apartment 103 at the University Suites complex at 2221 Technology Boulevard just after 7 p.m. to find Gray had been shot, according to a release from the Conway Police Department.

Bell said that the school sent five text alerts Wednesday night. The first one at 7:25 p.m. said a blue pickup was seen leaving the area towards Singleton Ridge Road and advised people nearby to stay inside.

A text alert sent two minutes later echoed the advice, “Please stay inside.”

Another message sent at 8:26 p.m. read “Campus does not appear to be in immediate danger. Due to police activity, please stay inside.”

The advised lockdown ended for some at 8:40 p.m. with a message telling students living on campus that they “are free to move about,” while students on Technology Boulevard and Singleton Ridge Road areas were told to “stay inside.”

A last text alert at 11:18 p.m. advised, “Students can return to Technology Blvd/Singleton Ridge areas. Area has been secured.”

Technology Boulevard runs from Singleton Ridge Road, past Horry Georgetown Technical College, to the roundabout at CCU.

Conway police are handling the investigation. Horry County police, the CCU Department of Public Safety and the Horry County Coroner were assisting Conway at the scene Wednesday night. Sgt. Darren Alston with the Conway Police Department said there were very few witnesses at the scene.

Police are searching for the suspects, who are unknown at this time and remain at large.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Conway Police Department at 843-248-1790.

University Suites is a townhouse complex that primarily houses HGTC and CCU students. The apartments are within walking distance to both college campuses.

Staff reporter Emily Weaver and Grand Strand News Alliance partner WPDE contributed to this story.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 8:31 AM.