Morgan State University plans to build a wall around campus after a shooting that injured five people during homecoming celebrations. The wall would extend existing fencing by 8,000 feet to circle 90% of campus, university President David Wilson said during a campus town hall. About 60% of the campus is already fenced off and has been in the works for decades.
The changes would affect most of the northeast Baltimore campus, reported NBC News. Station security personnel at entrances and exits, as well as additional campus police officers, are also part of the changes.
“We’re doing this, let me be clear, not to keep out our neighbors and our community writ large; we are doing it to keep out the bad actors,” Wilson said.
Community members will still be allowed to visit campus. The HBCU is also considering adding metal detectors and artificial intelligence to detect guns. Wilson said he is asking the Maryland state legislature and congressional delegation for funding to increase security measures on campus. He mentioned the need for $22.2 million in security upgrades, including $6.4 million for the wall, $4 million for electronic locks, and $3 million for cameras, according to the Baltimore Sun.
The shooting occurred during homecoming celebrations on the night of Oct. 3. Five people were shot, including four students, and all were released from the hospital last week, according to NBC News.
No arrests have been made so far. Law enforcement believes the shooting stemmed from a dispute and that the people injured weren’t the intended targets. Surveillance images of persons of interest have been released, and police are asking for help identifying them.
