Lincoln University Pennsylvania Campus and Background 

Where is it? 

Lincoln University is located in Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA. 

It is one of the historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States and holds the distinction of being the first degree-granting HBCU.  A bit of history & character The institution has served a primarily African-American student body and holds a special place among HBCUs in terms of heritage and legacy.  Homecoming at Lincoln University is a major tradition: a week of reunions, events, parades, tailgates, and festivities celebrating the student community and alumni.  For 2025 the university was featured in national HBCU homecoming coverage and had significant build-up for its football and alumni game weekend.    2025 Homecoming (Planned) The scheduled homecoming events for 2025 at Lincoln University included major gatherings of students, alumni, and community members.  As part of the 2025 season, the university’s athletic schedule and associated events were highlighted in NCAA coverage for HBCU homecomings.  The homecoming setting: After the football game, many attendees gathered for tailgating, socializing, and campus-celebration events (a normal and beloved part of the HBCU homecoming experience).   

The Shooting Incident 

What happened On the night of Saturday, October 25, 2025, gunfire broke out on the campus of Lincoln University during homecoming‐related festivities.  The location of the shooting was outside the university’s International Cultural Center (ICC) and in the area of tailgate/socializing following a football game.  One person, identified as 25-year-old Jujuan Jeffers of Wilmington, Delaware, was killed from a gunshot wound to the head.  Six other people, aged between 20 and 25, were wounded and taken to hospitals; one of the victims is a current student, another is an alum, while the rest had no direct connection to the university.  

Investigation & context Authorities believe more than one shooter may have been involved.  They do not currently believe the shooting was a pre-planned mass casualty event aimed at the campus.  One person has been arrested on charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license; investigators are looking into whether the weapon was used in the shooting.  

Aftermath & impact The university briefly went into lockdown as officials secured the scene and ensured there was no ongoing active threat.  Counseling services were made available to students, staff and alumni in response to the trauma of the event.  The incident has raised serious concerns about campus safety during events, particularly large social gatherings and homecoming celebrations at HBCUs and other institutions.    

Significance & Broader Reflections 

This incident is especially significant because it occurred at an HBCU during what is meant to be a joyful, celebratory homecoming weekend. That juxtaposition underscores how deeply disturbing such violence is for a campus community. The fact that the event took place during tailgating/togetherness highlights issues around crowd management, security at large social events, and the risks that can accompany being in large gathering spaces. For the students, alumni and community of Lincoln University, the shooting likely carries a heavy emotional toll—not just because of the immediate injuries and death—but because homecoming is about belonging, memory, tradition and celebration. This will affect campus morale, alumni relations and the feeling of safety. From a societal viewpoint, the incident contributes to the ongoing national conversation about gun violence in public and campus environments, and reinforces the need for preventive strategies, campus-community coordination, video evidence, witness cooperation (as authorities asked for videos and data).    What We Don’t Yet Know & Open Questions The full motive behind the shooting is still under investigation—while multiple shooters may be involved, authorities say they believe the shooting was not pre-meditated as a mass casualty attack.  It remains unclear how the gathered crowd, tailgate setup and security arrangements may have contributed to the vulnerability of the event. Some attendee comments suggested there were “too many people… with a lack of supervision.”  The status of all injured victims (beyond “expected to survive”) and the full accountability for all perpetrators remain pending, as investigations are ongoing.   

Why This Matters for the Lincoln University

Community & Beyond For the campus community, it means a disruption of normal student life, alumni relations, and the annual celebration of homecoming. The emotional impact will be lasting—feelings of loss, trauma, fear, and altered sense of safety. For current and prospective students, alumni and families, the incident may prompt renewed attention to campus security, protocols for large events, and perhaps changes in how homecoming and large tailgates are managed going forward. For HBCUs and other institutions hosting large social events, this serves as a reminder of potential risk factors: open large gatherings, tailgate areas, outdoor spaces, large numbers of attendees, alcohol or external visitors, and so on. On a wider level, it adds to the national tally of campus-adjacent shootings and the imperative for strategies that reduce gun violence, improve surveillance, rapid response, community engagement and supervision of social events.    The 2025 shooting at Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) is a tragic event that occurred during homecoming celebrations, resulting in one death and six injuries. The institution, with a long legacy as an HBCU, was hosting an event that should have been joyous and unifying—tailgates, alumni, students, community. Instead, the sudden eruption of gunfire turned it into chaos and grief. Investigations continue, the community is in mourning, and the implications extend beyond the immediate: to questions of event safety, campus culture, alumni relations, and how to protect gathering spaces.