Evan Taylor, a 19-year-old student at Shepherd University, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of Friday, February 13, 2026, in an off-campus apartment complex in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at approximately 3:38 a.m. reporting a shooting at University Heights Apartments on Hensel Drive. The caller informed dispatchers that a male victim was inside the apartment suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and that the suspect had fled the scene on foot.
Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded swiftly and located Taylor inside the apartment. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident prompted an immediate lockdown of the university campus, which was lifted roughly eight hours later. Classes were canceled for the day as the university community grappled with the shock and grief of losing one of its own.
Witnesses at the scene provided law enforcement with a description of the suspect, which led to a review of university surveillance footage. Officer Adam Letts of the Shepherd University Police Department identified a man matching the description on camera. The suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Travis Smith, was seen walking toward the H Lot parking area, where he entered a vehicle. Officers Letts and Ricketts detained Smith and discovered a loaded Glock handgun in his possession.
Smith was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Taylor’s death. Authorities have not yet released a motive for the shooting, and it remains unclear whether the suspect and victim knew each other. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with university police, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The shooting has left the Shepherdstown community in mourning. Evan Taylor was remembered as a bright and promising young man whose life was tragically cut short. University officials expressed their condolences and emphasized the availability of counseling services for students and staff affected by the tragedy. Vigils and memorials are being organized to honor Taylor’s memory and support his grieving family and friends.
As the investigation proceeds, law enforcement is urging anyone with additional information to come forward. The fatal shooting of Evan Taylor has reignited concerns about campus safety and the importance of proactive measures to prevent violence in student housing areas. The community remains united in its call for justice and healing in the wake of this senseless act.
