Gunman Dead, Two Injured in Shooting at Old Dominion University
A shooting incident occurred where there were 3 injured in shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on the morning of Thursday. The incident resulted in two people being injured and the gunman shot dead. A large number of law enforcement officials were deployed to the scene of the crime. Classes were also suspended for the remainder of the day. “Two people are injured and a gunman is dead after a shooting inside an academic building at Old Dominion University in Virginia Thursday morning, according to the school,” according to CNN News.
Shooting Reported in Academic Building
The shooting took place around 10:49 am inside the Constant Hall building, which houses the university’s business school. The building is an important academic hub where various activities and events frequently take place. Authorities confirmed that the gunman opened fire inside the building before the situation was quickly brought under control.
The emergency alert was sent to students and staff regarding the presence of an “active threat” on campus. The alert advised people in the area to follow the “Run, Hide, Fight” protocol while the authorities attended to the situation. “He added the police response was immediate and that they assured students were somewhere safe,” according to WAVY News.
People heard gunshots coming from inside the building, which caused confusion and fear among the students and staff who rushed to their respective safe locations.
Courtesy of Seth Granville (Flickr CC0)Two Victims Hospitalized
The officials confirmed that two people were injured in the shooting and were rushed to the nearby hospital for medical attention. However, the officials have yet to disclose the details of the victims’ identification and their condition.
According to the initial reports, the victims of the shooting were possibly students of the institution. However, the officials have yet to confirm the association of the victims with the institution. Medical staff and emergency teams arrived at the scene to assist the injured.
Gunman Found Dead
The authorities reported that the suspected gunman was found dead after the incident. It was not clear how the gunman died, and it was not clear whether the suspect was killed by police or whether he killed himself.
The law enforcement authorities have not revealed the identity of the suspect or whether the suspect had any link with the university.
The police departments that attended the scene of the incident included the Old Dominion University Police, Norfolk Police, and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Campus Placed on Lockdown
In the aftermath of the shooting incident, the university asked everyone on campus to avoid the vicinity of Constant Hall while the authorities processed the crime scene and searched for any potential threats.
Dozens of police and emergency vehicles were seen around the building as the investigation into the shooting incident got underway. By the end of the morning, officials confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the campus community.
The university had also canceled all classes and campus activities for the remainder of the day as a precautionary measure.
The decision was made by the university to allow law enforcement to carry out their investigation and for the students and staff to process the traumatic event.
Student Reactions
The incident has caused a lot of students to be traumatized by what they witnessed. The students who witnessed the shooting have described scenes of chaos inside some of the classrooms as the alerts were issued.
A student who spoke to the press after the incident expressed their gratitude at having gotten out of the incident unscathed. The student told the press that they were “just glad to be alive.”
Students who were inside classrooms or other areas of the school have allegedly barricaded themselves inside as they followed their emergency procedures.
The students are shocked by the fact that a shooting could happen at a time when everything seemed normal.
Investigation Underway
The authorities are still investigating the shooting incident, and they will seek to find out the motive behind the gunman’s actions and how he managed to get into the building.
The officials have not yet confirmed if the shooting was targeted or random.
The shooting incident is still under active investigation, and the police have promised that they will give further information on the incident in due course.
Impact on the University Community
Old Dominion University is a public research university with a student enrollment of about 23,000 students. It is one of the biggest universities in Virginia.
Campus leaders said counseling services will be available to the students and staff affected by the shooting. University officials said the safety and well-being of the campus community are a top priority. Such incidents raise the issue of security on university campuses in the United States.
A Developing Story
As the investigation continues to unravel the circumstances that led up to the shooting incident, a lot remains to be seen, from who the suspect is to what could have been their motive for shooting, as well as the current state of those who got injured during the incident.
However, for now, it is clear that the students at Old Dominion University are trying to come to terms with a violent incident that disrupted what could have been a normal morning at the university.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
CNN News: 2 injured and gunman dead after shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia, school says
WAVY News: Gunman dead, 2 injured in Old Dominion University shooting
Featured Image Courtesy of withvengeance86’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Seth Granville’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
