17-year-old boy arrested in Morgan State University mass shooting, 2nd suspect identified

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to last week's mass shooting that injured five people, including four students, during homecoming week celebrations at a Maryland historically Black college, police said Friday.

A second suspect in the Oct. 3 mass shooting at Morgan State University has also been identified, Baltimore police announed in a press release.

The 17-year-old, who was not identified by law enforcement, was taken into custody in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, according to the release.

The teen, who police said has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in the case, was slated to be transported and booked into jail in Baltimore on Friday.

Police said detectives, who worked closely with Washington D.C. Metro police and federal law enforcement agencies, used footage from surveillance video obtained during the shooting to identify and find the suspected gunmen.

Attempted murder warrant issued for Jovan Williams, 18

In addition to the 17-year-old's arrest, detectives said they issued a warrant for 18-year-old Jovan Williams in connection to the mass shooting.

Williams, who faces multiple counts of attempted murder, is considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Anyone who sees him or has information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

“BPD has been working tirelessly on the investigation into this incident and are grateful for the many partners that assisted us in identifying and capturing one of our suspects," Baltimore police Commissioner Richard Worley released in a statement. “We will not rest until Williams is in custody. While this arrest cannot undo the damage and trauma caused that day, it is my hope that it can bring some peace and justice to the victims, the Morgan community and our city.”

On Tuesday, Baltimore police posted images of two suspects wanted in connection with the shooting and asked the public for help identifying the suspects. Days earlier, police released a video showing several people walking in a grassy area along with a request for tips that may lead to their identification.

Pennsylvania mass shooting:1 dead, 8 injured in mass shooting at Pennsylvania community center

University and city reaction to arrest

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson called the teen's arrest a step towards justice for the victims.

“The Morgan Community can take solace today in knowing that an arrest has been made and we are one step closer to bringing all of the alleged culprits responsible for the incident that occurred on our campus to justice,” Wilson said in the release.

Earlier this week, on the heels of the shooting, Wilson announced plans to build a wall around the school's campus.

On Tuesday, during a campus town hall, Wilson said the wall would effectively "eliminate unfettered access" by extending existing barriers by about 8,000 feet, encircling 90% of the campus.

"We are doing it to keep out the bad actors," Wilson said, adding the wall will likely cost more than $22 million. A proposal, the president said, will be sent to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

On Friday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said the city will continue to provide any support needed to the school's campus and called on local and state leaders to address gun reform in an effort to keep firearms away from people "who should not have access to them."

"As we do every day, the city will continue doing our part to reduce and end gun violence by removing illegal guns and the people who use them off of our streets, while pursuing a comprehensive public-health-informed violence reduction strategy," the mayor released in a statement. "However, it continues to be clear that tackling the epidemic of gun violence in our country is going to require significant national action to address the proliferation of guns in our community."

Decomposing body of boy found in home:12-year-old's 'decomposing' body found in Milwaukee home, homicide investigation underway

What happened at Morgan State University?

Gunfire erupted on campus around 9:25 p.m. after a dispute between two groups, authorities said. All the victims, 18 to 22 years old, were unintended targets, according to police.

The shooting took place after a coronation ceremony, an event part of a pre-homecoming game ritual and prompted an hourslong lockdown on the campus as SWAT officers cleared a dorm building where investigators believed shooters may have fled.

The victims, who all suffered non life-threatening injuries, were taken to local hospitals.

The shooting canceled the rest of the week's homecoming events, including the school's football game, for the first time in the university's history.

This is a developing story.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.