Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Richland County Coroner Gary Watts confirmed Friday the identity one of the persons killed University of South Carolina campus as Dr. Raja Fayad, a professor at the school.
Watts says Fayad was shot multiple times in the upper body in an apparent murder-suicide. The other person has not been identified pending notification of the next of kin, but Watts did say that Fayad and the person had a history together.
Earlier in the morning, USC President Dr. Harris Pastides also confirmed that Fayed had died. On his Twitter account, Pastides wrote, "The sun is out this morning. Let's honor Professor Fayed with respect. Show someone that we care. Hold a Gamecock's hand today."
Fayed was the Graduate Director & Head of the Applied Physiology Division, and the Director of Integrative immunology of inflammation and Cancer Laboratory. According to the University of South Carolina's website, his research focused on colon cancer prevention.
The incident happened just before 1 p.m. Thursday inside the Arnold School of Public Health where Fayed worked. At 1:15 p.m., a campuswide alert was sent to all students and faculty telling that a shooting had taken place, and to remain indoors and obey instructions from law enforcement.
Streets around the health building were blocked as multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene.
Students inside the building told News19 they did not hear the gunshots. Many said they initially thought there was a drill, because the building's fire alarm was triggered. As they exited the building, police officers directed them several blocks away from the building.
In another part of campus, some students barricaded the doors of their class with a chair and a table. Images of their actions were sent out via Twitter, and were circulated by media outlets nationwide.
At 2:15 p.m., the school sent another alert letting the campus know there was no longer a threat.
Law enforcement searched the entire building, and found the bodies of the two killed alone inside a room.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is leading the investigation into the shootings, has released almost no details into the circumstances leading up to the incident, promising a full, deliberative probe. "This is a process that will take some time," SLED Spokesman Thom Berry said late Thursday afternoon. "It is a very slow, very methodical work because we want to make absolutely sure that it's done right."
Classes inside that building are cancelled until the investigation is complete. All other classes Friday are taking place as scheduled.
The university offered counseling services late Thursday night, and will continue to provide help to students until 7 p.m. Friday. The school also opened its Rutledge Chapel for the campus to come and pray and remember. Among those in attendance was Pastides.
"Just visited with students at the Rutledge," he wrote on Twitter. "I needed it too."
