After shooting, Livingstone College hires security experts to evaluate safety

SALISBURY, N.C. — It’s been more than a week since a shooting rocked Livingstone College.

Sophomore Isiah Prince said he attended the homecoming event two weekends ago when he heard gunshots at a concert.

“I ducked and rolled underneath the stage,” Prince said.

At a news conference Monday morning, the school announced it has hired security experts to review current safety policies. It’s also working with the Salisbury police chief.

The first step to the review process is getting feedback from students and people who work at the college. Prince wants to see more controlled access, like locked doors.

“A lot of buildings, it’s easy to get in to, so key cards would definitely be an upgrade,” Prince said.

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Senior Mya Evans said the campus needs more security guards, especially at big events.

“I feel like they should do better with checking people, making sure the right people are coming in campus, on campus because that’s where it starts, really,” Evans said.

Ronnell Higgins is one of two public safety experts the college hired. He said it could be weeks before a new plan is rolled out.

“Normally it’s 30 to 45 days after our initial work is done,” Higgins said.

Channel 9 asked college president Anthony Davis about the financial impact of beefing up security. He said it will be a longer process because the school doesn’t have a lot of money to shell out all at once, but it is a priority.

“Livingstone College is fiscally fragile, I recognize that,” Davis said. “So we’re going to have to make strategic decisions to invest in our public safety.”

The university is also taking feedback from past students and community members. If you’d like to submit an idea, send an email to President13@livingstone.edu.

(WATCH BELOW: Police: 21-year-old man facing charges for shooting during concert at Livingstone College)