Authorities say they are investigating a shooting that killed an 18-year-old student at Salem State University early today, hours after Halloween festivities had concluded.

Salem Police found Carl-Hens Beliard, a freshman listed on the men’s basketball team, inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds on Forest Avenue, several blocks away from campus.

Beliard, of Worcester, was taken to Salem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities responded to the scene of 22 Forest Ave. after receiving a report of the shooting at about 1:24 a.m. The incident does not appear to be a random act of violence or that there is any threat to the Salem State community, according to a preliminary investigation.

“This senseless gun violence is tragic not only for the victim’s family but for the SSU community and beyond,” Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said in a statement.

“State Police detectives assigned to my office are working closely with the Salem Police Department and Salem State University officials to identify and bring the person responsible to justice,” he added.

City resident Alyssa Jackson, who lives near campus, told WCVB that she often hears noises from parties and other activities at the university, “but we don’t hear gunshots around here.”

“I heard the car alarm that was going off, so I thought somebody was just breaking into a car,” Jackson said, “and then my mom went out front, thought the same thing at first, and then after a while saw the bullet hole in the back of the window.”

The past few days have been busy for authorities in the city that attracts people from all over for Halloween celebrations, including responding to a pair of car crashes caused by drunk drivers last weekend.

The overnight shooting, near a Salem State student parking lot, led to police diverting traffic in both directions.

Investigators were seen at a home where a black car, which sustained a bullet hole in its rear window, appeared to have crashed into a concrete barrier.

Investigators were also examining a home where a black car appeared to have crashed into a concrete barrier. A bullet hole could be seen in the center of the rear window.

“As both the Salem State president and a college dad, this tragedy is heartbreaking for all in our community and every parent’s worst nightmare,” President John Keenan said in a statement.

Developing