Tony Santaella

WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C.

Shooting took place at about 1%3A30 p.m. Friday

It happened outside dormitory that houses sophomores%2C juniors%2C seniors

The assailants are believed to have left the campus

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A student was killed Friday at South Carolina State University, and authorities say they are searching for at least four suspects.

The shooting took place around 1:30 p.m. ET Friday outside Andrew Hugine Suites, a dormitory for upperclassmen on the campus of the historically black university about 40 miles south of Columbia, S.C.

Killed was Brandon Robinson, 20, of Orangeburg. He had played on the school's football team.

"We are extraordinarily sad about this," said university President Thomas Elzey, who teared up as he spoke at an evening news conference. "He's a very nice young man ... and it hurts. It hurts us all."

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley offered any help the school needed, Elzey said. Students, faculty and staff are being offered counseling.

Those at the 3,200-student school were told to shelter in place all afternoon, and no one was allowed to leave or enter the grounds until about 6 p.m. University Police Chief Mernard Clarkson said officials know who fired the shots and believe that the suspects have left campus but had wanted to be ready in case they returned.

"The students are safe," he said at an afternoon news conference. "The perimeter of the campus has been secured."

Claflin University, a Methodist college of about 1,900 students across the street from South Carolina State, alerted its students to watch for Justin Bernard Singleton of Charleston, S.C. Charleston is about 75 miles southeast of Orangeburg.

Both universities had been on lockdown; authorities lifted the restrictions at Claflin after about two hours.

South Carolina State has not identified any of the suspects nor released a motive.

Though South Carolina allows any resident to purchase a rifle or shotgun, it is against the law to have any firearm on public or private school property, according to the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action.

Those who have concealed carry permits will be able to bring their guns into a restaurant or bar, now restricted areas by law, after Haley signs a bill delivered to her desk Thursday.

She indicated earlier this week that she would sign any firearms bill that doesn't restricts a gun owner's rights.

South Carolina State also was the site of a fatal shooting in 2011, when police said three men met on campus for a drug deal. A student, 22-year-old Jonathan Bailey, was killed.

Friday's shooting is the second this week on a college campus. On Tuesday, Andrew Boldt, 21, of West Bend, Wis., died after being stabbed and shot in a basement electrical engineering classroom at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

A fellow student and teaching assistant, Cody Cousins, 23, of Centerville, Ohio, is accused in Boldt's death and was charged with murder after surrendering to police.

Contributing: The Associated Press