Salisbury police said Matthew Greear, 19, died at the scene of the overnight shooting. Walter Franklin Long V, 19, died several hours later at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Two other Catawba students were in the apartment during the shooting reported just after midnight and dove out a window in a unit at the Lakewood Apartments to escape, according to police. Authorities were looking for two more men described as the assailants.

Police said the latest shooting occurred when two men knocked on the door of a unit where four people were inside. The two men walked inside and a shot was fired, striking Long in the head. One of the students who escaped said he later heard two more shots, Salisbury Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said.

Greear also was shot in the head, police said.

Investigators found a small amount of marijuana inside the apartment, police Lt. David Belk said. Police didn't immediately have a motive.

"We're still trying to piece everything together," Wilhelm said.

Greear was a football player, and Long had left the team because of a back injury.

"It is unimaginable that for a third time in six months Catawba College students have lost their lives, this time to a tragic shooting," college president Fred Corriher said.

Student Andy Grooms died in a dormitory fire last October.

Darris Morris, a football player, was shot to death on campus in January after a fight during a dorm party. Six people have been charged in the shootout between students from Catawba and Livingstone College.