14 February 2023 , 02:06
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At least three people are confirmed to have been killed and an active shooter that was on the loose at a university is dead after students were told to "run, hide, fight".
The lone gunman was believed to have opened fire at multiple locations at Michigan State University in the US, including in gym facilities.
The suspect is a 43-year-old man who had no connection to the university, police said.
In a second press conference held after 5am today, campus police chief Chris Rozman confirmed the suspect has been found dead after an hours-long manhunt. He was found off campus, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The announcement came early Tuesday, four hours after shootings were reported, first at Berkey Hall and then nearby at the MSU Union, a popular hub to eat or study.
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"This truly has been a nightmare that we are living tonight," he added.
Students can be seen running in terror (Twitter)
Dozens of students can be seen running away from one of the campus buildings (Twitter)Michigan State lifted a shelter-in-place order that had been in place for students since around 8.30pm local time on Monday.
Police earlier said that five people have also been taken to hospital, all with "life-threatening" injuries. They are fighting for life tonight in critical condition.
The suspect was described as a "short male with a mask". He had been roaming the campus for more than three hours.
"We are receiving surveillance footage of the suspect, preliminary reports are that he is a black male, short in stature, wearing red shoes," said Police Chief Rozman, at the first briefing held prior to the shooter being found dead.
Photo released these images of the Michigan State University shooting suspect"I can confirm that there were at least five victims some of them do have life threatening injuries."
And, in an update shortly after the press briefing, Michican State University police said there are "three confirmed fatalities. This is in addition to the five victims who have been transported to the hospital".
There is no longer a threat on campus, Mr Rozman said, and students need not continue sheltering in place.
The police chief said that the shooting began at Berkey Hall at 8.18pm local time, and that police were on site "within minutes" and found several victims.
Police Chief Chris Rozman at the briefingThere are hundreds of local and state police on the campus with long guns, a helicopter is overhead and they have been joined by FBI Detroit.
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Footage on social media shows dozens of people screaming and running for safety at the campus where initial reports sparked fears of multiple deaths. Scores of injured people have been rushed to hospital.
Campus police tweeted earlier: "The suspect description is a short male with a mask, possibly Black. Please continue to shelter in place. We are still receiving multiple calls of an active shooter on campus.
"The suspect is believed to be on foot right now. Community members on and off campus should continue to shelter in place. Police are continuing to respond."
Students pictured anxiously waiting for information (Getty Images)The police force said earlier: "There is another reported shooting at IM East [gymnasium]. Police are responding. There are multiple reported injuries. Media staging area is currently being determined. IM East is being secured. It appears there is only one suspect at this time.
"Victims are currently being transported to Sparrow Hospital. Brody Hall, Snyder/Phillips Hall, Mason Hall, Abbot Hall, Landon Hall, the MSU Union, and Berkey Hall have all been cleared/secured."
Terrified Michigan State University students hug during the active shooter situation on campus tonight (Getty Images)There were local reports of the suspect running with a rifle and continuing to shoot at the uni, which is located in the upper Midwestern United States.
And gunshots were also being heard at two different halls at the university.
"Reporter on scene is confirming gunshots at McDonnell Hall. Scanner traffic is reporting possible gunshots near Hubbard Hall," said one local journalist.
Students leaving a campus building with their hands up (Twitter)WDIV-TV meteorologist Kim Adams, whose daughter attends Michigan State, told viewers that students were worn down by the hourslong saga.
"They've been hiding, all the lights off in a dark room," Adams said. "Their cellphones are starting to lose battery charge. They don't all have chargers with them and losing contact with the outside world is terrifying on a normal day for college kids, let alone when there's someone out there that they haven't caught yet."
Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile (less than a kilometer) east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows "just in case." Sirens were constant, he said, and a helicopter hovered overhead.
"It's all very frightening," Kelley said. "And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I'm OK, which is overwhelming."
Police have locked down gym facilities at the campus (Mike Ellis/Twitter)Michigan State has about 50,000 students. All campus activities were canceled for 48 hours, including athletics and classes.
Footage showed a huge police presence with emergency response rushing to the scene on Monday night.
FBI Detroit tweeted: "The FBI is responding to assist in the reports of an active shooter on the Michigan State University campus. Additional updates will be provided as they become available."
One video clip shows students running out of a campus building screaming with their hands up as police approach them.
Police search bins at the campus (Twitter)One student, Jordan Robinson, told local media he has barricaded himself into his apartment.
"Now there is just fear, my roommates and I have secured are whole apartment right now," he said.
The shooting is believed to have begun at Berkey Hall before moving to other sites. An MSU spokesperson earlier confirmed one fatality, before police updated the death toll to three.
Campus police initially tweeted: "There have been shots fired near Berkey Hall on the East Lansing campus. Please secure-in-place immediately. Police are active on scene. More information to follow."
And a student tweeted an email he received from the university telling people to “run, hide, fight”.
It states: “MSU Police report shots fired incident occurring on or near the East Lansing campus.
“Secure-in-Place immediately. Run, Hide, Fight. Run means evacuate away from danger if you can do so safely, Hide means to secure-in-place, and Fight means protect yourself if no other option. "
Students with towels at the campus (WDIV)Michigan Police have stated: "Please do not go to MSU right now. Yes, its hard to do when you have loved ones on campus or adjacent to the campus. But it is far too dangerous as this armed suspect is moving in the area and police attempt to take them into custody. As always scanner traffic is inaccurate."
The shootings were believed to have been taking place at three locations at the university.
One person tweeted: "Three confirmed shooting locations on Michigan State University's campus: Berkey Hall, The Union and Phillips Hall. Landon Hall is reportedly being used as a staging area for victims. Scanner traffic reported two casualties."
There are reports of multiple injuries at the university (WDIV)The East Lansing High School auditorium, where a school board meeting was being held Monday night, was locked down and people were being prevented by police from leaving, the Lansing State Journal reported.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: "I’ve been briefed on the shooting at Michigan State University. The Michigan State Police along with @msupolice, local law enforcement and first responders are on the ground.
"Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more."
Police vehicles arriving at Michigan State University (Fox2)
There are reports of multiple deaths (Fox2)Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said: "The collective grief, heartbreak and horror unfolding at Michigan State tonight is unfathomable. Holding the entire MSU community in my heart.
"This repetitive terror cannot continue. We must come together and do whatever it takes to protect our kids & communities from gun violence."
The East Lansing Police Department urged residents to “shelter in place immediately,” and that a shooter is at large.
Residents are urged to avoid the area.