Coastal Carolina Shooting, Sophomore Anthony Liddell Killed at Residence Hall: University President, Students Mourn Loss, Gunman Still at Large

Reports confirm that 19-year-old Coastal Carolina sophomore Anthony Liddell was killed during a near-campus shooting on Tuesday evening, Feb. 26. The tragic shooting occurred at the University Place - an apartment-style residence hall located just off-campus in Conway, SC - at around 7:20 p.m. Liddell was rushed to the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach where he later died of his wounds. As students mourn the loss of their fellow classmate, University President David DeCenzo recently released an official statement on the school's website, offering his heartfelt condolences. The unidentified gunman, who is thought to have fled campus after the shooting, still remains at large. Liddell was the shooter's only victim.

Following the shooting, Coastal Carolina residence halls both on and off-campus remained on lockdown for the rest of the evening. School officials believe the shooter immediately fled the campus - classes resumed on Wednesday.

The school issued an emergency alert using email and text messages at around 8 p.m. According to Coastal Department of Public Safety Police Chief David Roper, there remains no apparent threat to students, faculty or staff on campus.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the State Law Enforcement Division is still leading an investigation in a search for the shooter. Conway police gave no further information on the motive for the shooting.

In a letter issued by President DeCenzo on the Coastal Carolina website:

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Anthony Liddell. Tragedies such as these anywhere in our society are senseless. Precious loss of life at such an early age affects us all. Our primary goal is to ensure the safety and security of our students. We will continue to do all that we can with all the resources necessary to make sure that our students are safe and secure. We only pray that an event like this never happens on our campus or any college campus again."

Over 9,000 students attend Coastal Carolina University, which was founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College and became an independent university in 1993. The university announced that counselors and ministers will provide assistance on Wednesday to those students in need of comfort at a campus chapel and at residence halls.

Thoughts and condolences go out to young Liddell's family, friends, and classmates during this time of tragic loss. For a photo gallery in memory of Liddell, go here.