A deep sense of sorrow has settled over the campus of South Carolina State University following a tragic shooting on February 12 that claimed the lives of two young students and left another injured. What should have been an ordinary week of classes, conversations, and campus life instead became a moment of profound heartbreak inside Hugine Suites, a residential complex at the university.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the shooting occurred inside a dorm room at Hugine Suites. Authorities charged 18-year-old Khamanti Lytrel Kennedy with two counts of murder. He was booked into the Orangeburg County Detention Center, and the case will be prosecuted by the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.
Yet beyond the legal proceedings are two young men whose lives were defined by more than a single tragic moment.
Remembering Henry L. Crittington
Henry L. Crittington, 19, was pronounced deceased at the scene. At just 19 years old, Henry stood at the threshold of adulthood — building friendships, pursuing his education, and laying the groundwork for his future. Those who knew him describe a young man marked by quiet determination and thoughtful ambition.
He represented the hope carried by so many first-year college students: hope rooted in opportunity, growth, and possibility. His absence leaves an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family and within a university community that watched his journey begin.
Remembering Terrell Thomas
Terrell Thomas, 18, succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital. Only 18, Terrell embodied youth, vitality, and promise. Friends recall his vibrant personality and the warmth he brought into shared spaces. He was a young man with dreams still unfolding and aspirations still taking shape.
For his loved ones, the grief is profound — a painful reminder of potential unrealized and milestones that will now be remembered in absence.
A Community in Mourning
The tragedy has shaken Orangeburg County and the broader university community. Dormitories meant for study and fellowship became the site of unimaginable loss. As vigils are held and counseling services offered, students and faculty alike are striving to process the weight of what occurred.
Henry and Terrell were more than victims of violence. They were sons, classmates, friends — young men whose lives mattered deeply. Though their time was brief, the impact of their presence endures in memories, shared laughter, and the bonds they formed.
🕊️ Rest in peace, Henry L. Crittington and Terrell Thomas. Your lives will not be forgotten. 🕊️