TWO people are reported to have been shot dead at Central
Michigan University which remains on lockdown after a
shooting in the Campbell Hall building, sparking a gun alert across the Mount Pleasant city area. The shooter is still on the run.
No other injuries were reported and the suspect is said to be still at large and considered “armed and dangerous.”
Police confirmed the deceased are not students and local reports are that it was the students parents who were killed. They had come to pick the shooter up at the start of CMU spring brea
Shots are thought to have been fired on the fourth floor of the college building, with the university’s police department saying they had received a call about what sounded like gunfire.
Students have been told to "hide and stay alert" by the university.
City of Mount Pleasant police described the suspect as "a black male and considered armed and dangerous".
Police told locals to stay clear of the area, issuing an alert call to students and staff just after 9am local time (2pm GMT).
The university tweeted: "CMU police confirm two individuals were fatally shot at Campbell Hall on campus this morning. The deceased are not students and police believe the situation started from a domestic situation. There are no additional injuries; suspect is still at large."
Schools across the Mount Pleasant area have been put on lockdown as a precaution, police said.
The suspect has reportedly fled to nearby train tracks. A police helicopter is flying overhead to search for the shooter.
Students described police swooping on the campus.
One tweeted: “Just saw 8 cop cars drive by me on campus. Got a call 1 minute later saying there was a shooting on CMU campus. Crazy world.”
Another wrote: “I’m on CMU’s campus at work right now and just got a call that there was shots fired in the towers and they haven’t said anything about having the suspect in custody or anyone being hurt just that there was gunfire and I’m pretty terrified!!!”
A voice blared over tannoys saying the suspect was "still at large" and students should "shelter where they are".
Central Michigan University said on Twitter: "There has been a report of shots fired at Campbell Hall on campus. Suspect is still at large, police advise all to take shelter. If you see something suspicious, call 911."
Campbell Hall is understood to be a mixed-sex dormitory on the West Campus.
It also contains classroom space, gym, convenience store and study rooms.
The university’s school of humanities and behavioural sciences tweeted: “Please avoid Campbell Hall until we hear more information. We received an emergency alert of shots fired in Campbell Hall.”
Sherry Knight, associate Vice President with University Communications said the university advice to students was to stay where they are and stay in their dorm rooms or campus buildings.
Classes have been cancelled.
A student said she woke up to the shooting, tweeting: "If you’re on the CMU campus please stay inside! Stay safe everyone. This is terrifying to wake up to."
Connor Byrne who said: “Reports of Shots fired at Campbell hall, subject is a male last seen with mustard colored jeans and a blue hoodie, pistol potentially in waistband. He is not in custody and on foot north of Campbell hall. Do not move from where you are.”
The latest shooting comes just two weeks after 17 children were shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Killer Nikolas Cruz, 19, sprayed automatic fire around the campus of his school sparking fury across America.
Fierce debate ensued between the pro-gun and anti-gun lobbies – with President Trump suggesting there would be no changes to firearms legislation except that he recommended arming school teachers.
Today students demanded a change to gun laws as the incident became the ninth school shooting this year.
Twitter user called Sammy tweeted: “This is our HOME and our SCHOOL. We need change. #prayforcmu”.