Campus Alert Archive
NC A&T

Shots Fired Behind the Student Center: Non-Student Altercation Wounds One and Exposes HBCU Security Gaps

NCshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On August 25, 2023, one person was shot outside the Memorial Student Center at North Carolina A&T State University at approximately 8:41 PM EDT during an altercation among individuals not affiliated with the university. An Aggie Alert notified students of the shots fired, and the university subsequently implemented new security measures.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Hbcu · NC
~13,000 studentsAggieAlert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Verified verbatimWFMY News 2, which quoted the Aggie Alert text verbatim97 chars
Shots fired in the area of the rear of Student Center. UPD on scene. Avoid the area at this time.
Verbatim Aggie Alert SMS as quoted by WFMY News 2; sent shortly after the shooting was reported around 8:41 PM EDT on August 25, 2023.
The terse wording — 'rear of Student Center,' 'UPD on scene' — reflects the SMS character economy of NC A&T's AggieAlert system; 'UPD' is University Police Department.
The shooting occurred at the rear of the Memorial Student Center during an altercation among non-students.
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction197 chars
AGGIE ALERT UPDATE: The scene near the student center has been secured. One individual was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No students were involved. Campus is safe.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from local media coverage
The university emphasized that no students were involved in the altercation or injured
The victim self-transported to a hospital rather than being taken by ambulance
Context

Background

On the evening of August 25, 2023, shots were fired outside the Memorial Student Center at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro during an altercation among individuals not affiliated with the university. One person was shot and self-transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The university confirmed that none of the individuals involved were students or guests of students. An Aggie Alert was sent to the campus community, and University Police secured the scene. In response, NC A&T implemented new security measures including license plate readers, dozens of new cameras, and a student safety app. On September 18, Joshua Nikolaus Fuentes, 20, was arrested and charged with discharging a weapon on educational property and possession of a weapon on school property. This shooting came just months after a March 2023 incident where a man was arrested near campus with multiple firearms and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, an incident for which the university chose not to issue an Aggie Alert, generating significant controversy among students.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooting involved individuals with no affiliation to the university, highlighting challenges HBCUs face with non-student visitors on campus
The university responded by investing in new security technology including license plate readers and expanded camera systems
A suspect was arrested nearly one month later on September 18 and charged with weapons offenses on school property
Outcome
One person was shot and self-transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. NC A&T confirmed no students were involved in the altercation. On September 18, 2023, 20-year-old Joshua Nikolaus Fuentes (no university affiliation) was arrested and charged with discharging a firearm on educational property and possession of a weapon on educational property. He was released on a $50,000 secured bond. Publicly available reporting did not document a final case disposition or trial outcome beyond the initial charges.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    1 person shot at NC A&T, Aggie Alert issued (WFMY News 2)
    wfmynews2.com
  2. News
    NC A&T State University leaders add new safety measures (FOX8 WGHP)
    myfox8.com
  3. News
    Man arrested one month after NC A&T shooting (WFMY News 2)
    wfmynews2.com
  4. News
    1 shot in altercation on NC A&T campus (FOX8 WGHP)
    myfox8.com
Tags
shootinghbcunon-student-perpetratorsstudent-centernorth-carolinacampus-securitysecurity-upgrades
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion