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A gunman opened fire at Michigan State University, killing three and injuring five, and police urged frightened students and others to take cover while searching for the suspect.
Hundreds of officers were combing the East Lansing campus, about 90 miles (145 kilometres) northeast of Detroit, looking for the suspect, whom police described as a short black man wearing red shoes, a jean jacket and a baseball cap.
University authorities also said the suspect is believed to have fled on foot. “Community members on and off campus should continue to shelter in place. Police continue to respond,” MSU police shared. Authorities described the suspected shooter as "a short man in a mask."
MSU police say the suspect is a shorter black man with red shoes, a jean jacket and a navy blue baseball cap with a lighter brim. Authorities said after a three-hour manhunt, the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found off campus.
“Run, hide, fight,” an alert was sent to students around 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC News reported. "Running means running away from danger if you can do it safely, Hiding means staying safe in place, and Fighting means protecting yourself if there is no other option," the message also noted.
Michigan State University police have described the suspect as a “short male with a mask, possibly Black”. It is believed that there was only one shooter involved and he was on foot. Police are active on the scene.
Second shooting reported at Michigan State University
Minutes later, the MSU Police and Public Safety account shared information about another shooting. “ There is another shooting reported at IM East. The police are responding. There are multiple injuries reported. The media staging area is currently being determined," they shared on Twitter.
IM East is an on-campus gym and sports complex, according to the university's website. It is approximately 1 mile southeast of Berkey Hall, where the first shooting occurred. Students on campus reported on social media that they were hiding or barricaded as officers dispersed.
“I have been informed about the shooting at Michigan State University. Michigan State Police along with @msupolice, local police and first responders are on the ground. Let's embrace the Spartan community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more," Governor Gretchen Whitmer shared on Twitter.
Shootings at schools and universities are alarmingly frequent as part of a broader wave of gun violence in the United States, where the proliferation of firearms has skyrocketed in recent years.
Michigan State University has about 50,000 students. All campus activities have been canceled for the next 48 hours, including sports and school activities.
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