BREAKING: Federal agents are asking the SC State community to share phone videos and photos from two October shootings on campus. The FBI has opened a public digital tips site and is seeking files directly from students, staff, and visitors. The investigation is active. The stakes are high for safety, privacy, and accountability.
What is new today
I can confirm the FBI is maintaining a digital portal to collect media from the October incidents at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. The site is designed to take original files, not reposts or edited clips. Investigators want time stamps, locations, and any context a witness can offer. That includes short clips, still photos, and audio.
Two separate shootings on the SCSU campus triggered lockdowns and community alerts. Federal and state partners are now asking anyone who was near the scenes to share what they captured. The goal is simple. Build a complete timeline, identify guns, and find who pulled the trigger.
When you submit, include the time, place, and whether the file is original. Do not edit or add filters. 📷
The legal stakes of phone evidence
Digital evidence can make or break a case. For it to hold up, agents must prove the files are real and unchanged. That process relies on metadata, device details, and witness statements. Courts also require a clear chain of custody. Each handoff must be documented.
Your rights matter here. You can choose to send media through the portal. You can also choose not to do so. If police want to search your phone, they usually need a warrant, unless you give consent or an urgent exception applies.
Investigators may seek location data or other records from tech companies. They must follow the Fourth Amendment. That means a judge must approve any search that invades a reasonable expectation of privacy. Evidence must be gathered lawfully. If not, it risks being thrown out in court.
Police usually need a warrant to search your phone. You can refuse consent to a search.
Campus policy, transparency, and the HBCU context
South Carolina State University is a public, historically Black, land grant institution founded in 1896. With that role comes clear legal duties during a crisis. The Clery Act requires timely warnings when serious threats arise. It also requires emergency notifications, a daily crime log, and an annual security report.
Students should expect clear alerts, lockdown instructions, and follow up reports. Families need regular updates on safety steps and support services. Those steps should be posted on official channels so information is consistent and accessible.
Partnerships matter. Campus police must coordinate with Orangeburg authorities, state investigators, and the FBI. Memorandums of understanding should define who leads, who communicates, and how evidence is shared. The university also has a duty under federal civil rights law to ensure safety without bias. That includes fair enforcement that respects Black students and visitors, and avoids practices that chill campus life.
False tips and hoaxes waste resources and can lead to criminal charges.
What students and neighbors can do now
If you were near the scenes in October, consider sending files. Keep the original versions on your device and in a cloud backup. Do not post new material that could expose victims or hinder the case.
Here is what helps the most:
- The original file with no edits or filters
- Exact time and place, plus where you were standing
- What you saw before, during, and after
- Names of any other witnesses, if they agree
Know your rights during any stop. You can ask if you are free to leave. You can ask for a lawyer if questioned as a suspect. You can record police in public areas, as long as you do not interfere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the FBI asking for right now?
A: Original photos, videos, or audio connected to the October shootings on the SC State campus, with times and locations.
Q: Do I have to hand over my phone?
A: No. You choose whether to submit. Police usually need a warrant to search your device unless you consent.
Q: What does the Clery Act require the university to do?
A: Issue timely warnings, send emergency notices, keep a daily crime log, and publish an annual security report.
Q: Can I submit a tip anonymously?
A: Yes, you can share media without your name. Your privacy is protected within the limits of law and public records rules.
Q: Will this change policing on campus?
A: Expect closer coordination, clearer alerts, and possible policy reviews on access, escorts, and cameras. Any new rules must respect student rights.
South Carolina State is facing a hard test. Safety demands speed, but the law demands care. The digital tips portal is open. The investigation is moving. The path forward must protect both justice and the people who call this campus home.
