In Loving Memory of Henry L. Crittington and Terrell Tayshaun Thomas You were deeply loved, and you will never be forgotten.

In Loving Memory of Henry L. Crittington and Terrell Tayshaun Thomas You were deeply loved, and you will never be forgotten.

With heavy hearts, the Orangeburg community and the campus of South Carolina State University mourn the tragic loss of two young men whose lives were cut short in a Thursday night shooting at the Hugine Suites student residential complex. What should have been an ordinary evening on campus turned into a night of fear, heartbreak, and unimaginable grief.

At approximately 9:15 p.m., the university issued a campus-wide lockdown following reports of gunfire inside an apartment at the student housing complex. The lockdown remained in place until about 5 a.m. Friday, as law enforcement secured the area and began their investigation. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is leading the investigation into the shooting, which remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released details regarding potential suspects or a motive.

According to Orangeburg County Coroner Sean Fogle, the victims have been identified as:

• Henry L. Crittington, 19, of Orangeburg, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Terrell Tayshaun Thomas, 18, of Norway, South Carolina, who was transported to MUSC Health Orangeburg, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

A third individual was injured in the shooting, though officials have not released further information about their condition.

Today, we pause not to dwell on the violence that claimed their lives, but to honor the young men they were.

Henry L. Crittington was only 19 years old—a son, a friend, a student, and a young man filled with promise. Those who knew him describe him as warm-hearted and genuine, someone whose presence brought energy and light into a room. His life was still unfolding, filled with goals, aspirations, and dreams that will now live on in memory rather than reality.

Terrell Tayshaun Thomas, just 18, was at the very beginning of adulthood. He carried with him the excitement of youth and the hope of building a future through education and opportunity. Friends and family remember him for his kindness, his spirit, and the way he valued the relationships in his life. His loss leaves a deep ache not only in Norway and Orangeburg, but across the entire campus community.

Founded in 1896, South Carolina State University stands as the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), serving more than 2,900 students and boasting over 30,000 active alumni. It is a place rooted in resilience, scholarship, and community. In the wake of this tragedy, university officials canceled classes and made counseling services available, offering support as students, faculty, and staff attempt to process their grief.

The pain felt across campus is profound. Dorm hallways are quieter. Classrooms feel heavier. Conversations are filled with disbelief and sorrow. Yet within this grief is unity—a shared commitment to honor Henry and Terrell not by how they died, but by how they lived.

Their lives mattered. Their dreams mattered. Their presence mattered.

As the investigation continues, the community holds tight to memories of laughter, friendship, and youthful ambition. Henry L. Crittington and Terrell Tayshaun Thomas leave behind families who loved them deeply and friends who will forever carry their stories forward.

May their loved ones find strength in one another and comfort in the outpouring of support surrounding them. Though their time here was far too brief, the impact they made will endure in the hearts of all who knew them.

Rest in peace, Henry and Terrell.

You were deeply loved, and you will never be forgotten.