ECSU student who was shot recalls the moment shooting started
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — Elizabeth City State University student Sara Hill is not only a student-athlete, but is also in the Army Reserves.
After finishing up homework ahead of finals, she went to join her friends at ECSU's final night of 'Viking Fest,' but the fun evening quickly turned frightening though when gunshots started flying through the crowd after midnight Sunday.
One killed, at least 5 injured, during ECSU Viking Fest event
'He shot off five or six semi's and then went full auto in the crowd,' she said. 'I'm not even kidding, like I was probably maybe 10 feet from him.'
Bullets were flying, some people were running, others dropped to the ground and froze. Hill said she saw a girl fall near the shooter.
'I just remember that girl falling,' Hill said. 'I remember dropping to a knee and trying to get her up, we were trying to get her up. She added the shooter saw the fall happen.
'Then he looks at the both of us and starts walking towards us and I literally looked at him. I saw the muzzle and I was like, 'Oh God, girl we gotta go.'
After helping several classmates up, Hill felt a sharp pain in her hip after escaping the shooters line of sight.
'I really, genuinely, did not realize I was shot,' she said. 'I kept pulling my hand up and it was just covered in blood.'
Over the next few hours, Hill learned she wasn't the only student that was shot.
She said two football players who survived the shooting and have not been identified, were shot as well.
Another person who wasn't a student was identified by his brotherhood Groove Phi Groove as 24-year-old Isaiah Caldwell. They said he died.
'He was so nice … so friendly,' said Hill about their brief encounter.
She said the attack did not seem targeted towards anyone in particular because of the way the suspect was shooting. Hill said the shooter was spraying bullets in all directions.
She and other students 10 On Your Side spoke with said they also don't believe the shooter was a student.
'We just know it wasn't possible,' Hill said. 'I'm telling you, the students, we all love each other so much.'
No suspect information has been released as of Monday evening.
No arrests have been made. If you or someone you know may have information, contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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