Suspect in custody, one person dead after shooting at Oklahoma community college, police say
By Michelle Watson, CNN
A suspect is in custody and one person is dead after a shooting at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, the city’s police chief said Monday.
Chief Sid Porter told reporters the suspect and victim “are acquainted through a domestic situation.”
Authorities say the suspect’s wife and the 20-year-old male victim — both students — were leaving the school’s humanities building when the suspect confronted them and began shooting.
Officers who were assigned to patrol the campus had received reports of a person shot, responded to the area and found the suspect, Porter said.
Witnesses identified the shooter, who placed his “gun into a backpack” after firing, according to a news release from police.
Authorities say when he was confronted by officers, the suspect “got down on his knees, raised his hands and stated he surrendered.”
The suspect is being held in the Oklahoma County jail and is accused of first-degree murder, according to online records. It is unclear whether he has an attorney.
Police didn’t identify victim.
Porter said students and staff did a “fantastic job” at responding to the incident at the community college east of Oklahoma City. He said the campus had an active shooter drill in the past few weeks.
Rose State College is a public, two-year institution, it says on its website. It has more than 13,000 students and more than 60 academic programs.
“We are currently experiencing an active shooter situation on campus,” Rose State College said earlier on Twitter. “Please shelter in place and follow instructions from law enforcement officials. More information to follow as it becomes available.”
The lockdown was later lifted.
16CNN has reached out to the mayor’s office, the Midwest City Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Rose State College for more information.
People on campus were asked to leave after the end of the lockdown.
“Please avoid the area south of Humanities and Administration Building. All activities and classes for the remainder of Monday, April 24 are cancelled,” a tweet from the college said.
The campus will also be closed Tuesday, the school said, adding in a subsequent tweet it is working to provide counseling services for people who need it.
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CNN’s Steve Almasy, David Close and Phil Gast contributed to this report.
