PITTSBURGH -- Five Duquesne University basketball players were shot on campus and taken to local hospitals early Sunday morning, a university spokeswoman said.

Two of the victims -- Sam Ashaolu, a cousin of former NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon, and Stuard Baldonado, a prized recruit from Miami Dade College -- were taken to Mercy Hospital in critical condition. Baldonado was upgraded to serious condition later in the day.

Kojo Mensah, believed to have suffered a shoulder wound, is at UPMC Presbyterian hospital. No information about his condition is being made available.

The others -- Shawn James and Aaron Jackson -- were released after being treated at Pittsburgh hospitals, police said. James was shot in the foot and Jackson got hit in the hand.

"The entire Duquesne University community is saddened and shocked," university President Dr. Charles Dougherty said. "We're shocked because an event of this sort has never happened. It's a safe campus and known to be a safe campus."

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• Slideshow: Pictures From The Scene

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Homicide detectives from the Pittsburgh Police Bureau said the students attended a dance at the Student Union and were leaving the event at about 2:15 a.m. when an argument began with another man.

The man followed the students as they walked through campus, then pulled out a gun and shot them near the Vickroy Hall dormitory, police said.

The shooter ran away toward Forbes Avenue and is still at large. He is not believed to be a student, according to Dougherty.

The suspect was described as black, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, wearing a white T-shirt.

Dougherty said the party was sponsored by Duquesne's Black Student Union. University police were stationed inside and saw no problems all night, he said.

Events sponsored by university groups are often open to non-students, and this was one of those cases, Dougherty said.

Duquesne Athletic Director Greg Amodio said his main concern right now is for the injured students' health. The university will decide later how to proceed with the upcoming basketball season, he said.

Nearly all of the players on Duquesne's roster are new to campus. Only two -- including Jackson -- attended the school last year.

After the Dukes won just three games last season, coach Ron Everhart was hired away from Northeastern University to turn the program around.

The 6-foot-10 James followed Everhart and transferred to Duquesne after the season. He is an NBA prospect who led the nation in blocked shots last year at Northeastern.

Mensah, a friend of James from their days at Notre Dame Prep, averaged nearly 17 points per game last year at Siena College. He also transferred to Duquesne after the season.

Refresh this page later and stay with WTAE Channel 4 Action News for updates.

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