Campus Alert Archive
SLU

Gang-Related Gunfire During Hammond High Graduation Wounds Three and Triggers Stampede at SLU's University Center

LAshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On the evening of May 19, 2022, three people were shot and a fourth was injured in a stampede as crowds exited Hammond High School's graduation ceremony at Southeastern Louisiana University's University Center. The confrontation, determined to be gang-related by Hammond Police, erupted at approximately 8:16 p.m. CDT. Suspect Trent Thomas, 20, was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
4
Institution
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Masters · LA
~14,600 studentsSLU Emergency Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X
Verified verbatimSLU Twitter/X post quoted verbatim in WGNO and WWLTV coverage257 chars
A shooting has occurred on campus after the Hammond High graduation ceremony. One person is in custody and there are multiple victims. While there is no danger posed to others, please remain away from the UC area as police are still investigating the crime.
Posted to Southeastern Louisiana University's official Twitter/X account shortly after the shooting began at approximately 8:16 p.m. CDT on May 19, 2022
Alert was issued after suspect was already in custody, reflecting a faster-than-typical response time
Tweet noted 'no danger posed to others' to prevent further panic among the large graduation crowd still on campus grounds
Context

Background

Southeastern Louisiana University's University Center in Hammond, Louisiana was hosting Hammond High School's graduation ceremony on the evening of May 19, 2022. As the ceremony ended and a crowd of families and students began filing out, a confrontation erupted near the exit around 8:16 p.m. CDT. According to Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron, the shooting was gang-related and at least two people fired shots. The three shooting victims and the stampede victim were all innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. SLU police responded immediately and suspect Trent Thomas was taken into custody at the scene. The university communicated the all-clear on Twitter quickly after the arrest, noting that there was no ongoing danger. A second juvenile suspect was identified and arrested in a follow-up investigation. The incident raised questions about security protocols for large off-campus events held on university property, as SLU's campus regularly hosts community events.
Outcome
Three bystanders wounded by gunfire; one person injured in the ensuing stampede. None of the victims were SLU students or involved in the original confrontation. Trent Thomas, 20, of Hammond charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated damage to property, and possessing a firearm in a school zone. A juvenile was later arrested as a second suspect.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    3 bystanders shot, another victim trampled after gunfire at Hammond graduation - WBRZ
    wbrz.com
  2. News
    4 shot at Hammond High graduation on SLU's campus; suspect in custody - WAFB
    wafb.com
  3. News
    Shooting reported at Southeastern University during high school graduation - WGNO
    wgno.com
  4. News
    Four people shot following high school graduation on SLU campus - Louisiana Radio Network
    louisianaradionetwork.com
Tags
shootinggraduationcommunity-eventgang-relatedlouisianabystander-injurystampedehammond
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion