Richland County teen arrested after shootings at SC university, cops say
A Richland County teenager was arrested Sunday following multiple shootings on the South Carolina State University campus during Saturday’s homecoming celebrations, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Matthew Daniel McCoy, an 18-year-old Blythewood resident, was charged with pointing and presenting a firearm at a person as well as carrying a weapon on school property, SLED said in a news release.
McCoy, who was booked into the Orangeburg County Detention Center, has not been charged with murder or attempted murder. A woman was killed in the first of the shootings at the university’s campus in Orangeburg, SLED said. A man was hospitalized after being hit by gunfire in the second shooting, according to the release.
The shootings are not believe to be connected at this time, SLED said.
McCoy had an unsecured Glock handgun under the passenger seat of his vehicle, and after seeing a fight between two groups on campus he got the pistol and shot twice toward a man wearing a black and red hoodie, according to an arrest warrant.
McCoy will be prosecuted by the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office, SLED said.
There was no word if the male shooting victim is the person that McCoy is accused of targeting with the two rounds.
Jaliyah Butler, a 19-year-old Saluda resident who was visiting S.C. State, was pronounced dead at MUSC Health Orangeburg, Orangeburg County Coroner. Sean Fogle said Sunday. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.
The man who was shot was also taken to an area hospital before he was airlifted by helicopter to another hospital, according to the release. Further information on his condition was not available.
Another guest on campus was injured while running from the scene of the first shooting, officials said. Information on that victim’s condition was not available.
None of the victims were S.C. State students, according to university officials.
Information about any other the shooters, and how many people were involved, was not available, and there was no word on a motive for any of the instances of gunfire.
As of 4 p.m. Sunday, no other arrests have been reported but the shootings continue to be investigated by SLED, at the request of the S.C. State Department of Public Safety.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call 866-472-8477 and/or email tips@sled.sc.gov.
The shootings happened during S.C. State’s homecoming weekend celebration, university officials said. Public safety issued a lockdown for the campus immediately following the first shooting, according to the university.
Following the gunfire, a planned homecoming concert scheduled for 10 p.m. Saturday was canceled, along with all other events that were set to be held Sunday, university officials said. Additionally, all classes for Monday have been canceled, according to officials.
The campus remained secured on lockdown through the weekend and was accessible only to students, employees and investigators, according to the release. At 6 a.m. Monday, the lockdown was lifted, university officials said.
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This story was originally published October 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM.
