News

Mass. native out of surgery after being shot on campus of UNC at Charlotte

A shooting on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has left at least two people dead and four others injured. Three people are fighting for their lives while the other is expected to recover.

Boston 25 News has learned one of the victims grew up in Massachusetts.

Among the four people injured in the shooting is Drew Pescaro, a sophomore communications student at the university.

WATCH BOSTON 25 NEWS

>> 2 dead, 4 injured in shooting at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, suspect in custody

Boston 25 News spoke with his cousin who told us Pescaro grew up in Rutland and Shrewsbury before moving to North Carolina with his parents and three brothers about ten years ago.

Pescaro's girlfriend was by his side at the hospital as he underwent surgery.

"What we know is that he spoke to his mother on the way to the hospital. His parents live about two hours from the campus. The fact that he was able to talk to his mother was pretty reassuring," his cousin said.

Pescaro was recovering from surgery just before midnight, his cousin said, and will have a long recovery ahead of him.

Pescaro is a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. His brothers posted a message on Twitter thanking everyone for keeping Drew in their thoughts and prayers.

Police say the gunman opened fire just before 6 p.m. in Kennedy Hall, an administrative building that also has classrooms. A student says the shooter didn't say anything, he just started shooting while students were giving presentations.

A source tells our Charlotte sister station WSOC the shooter is 22-year-old Trystan Terrell, a former history student at the school who dropped out this semester.

The campus police chief says Terrell was armed with a pistol. Officers quickly got the weapon from him and took him into custody. They don't believe anyone else was involved in the shooting.

Our sister station captured Terrell being brought into police headquarters. He is seen turning around and laughing.

Tuesday was the last day of classes for the semester. A lot of students were on campus at the time of the shooting for a baseball game and concert that were scheduled for tonight.

All university activities for the night have been canceled.

The FBI and ATF are helping investigate.

Social media reaction to UNCC campus shooting