The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill remains on lockdown and classes are cancelled for the day as police search for an “armed and dangerous” suspect following an active shooter incident.
A large police presence could be seen near Caudill Labs, which is located just across the street from the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower.
The emergency alert went out just after 1pm on Monday advising students to go inside immediately, close windows and doors.
At 1:50 p.m., officials posted that the shelter-in-place order remained in effect and that it was “an ongoing situation.” About 40 minutes later, the school added a post saying: “Remain sheltered in place. This is an ongoing situation. Suspect at large.”
Police issued a photo of the person of interest who is being sought and urged anyone who sees him to call 911.
“This photo shows a person of interest in today’s armed and dangerous person situation,” police wrote. “If you see this person, keep your distance, put your safety first and call 911.”
At least one person was wounded, The Daily Tar Heel reported.
Students are still under a shelter-in-place order as police and paramedics respond to the scene where at least one shot was allegedly heard near Caudill Labs, according to local reports.
Governor Roy Cooper released a statement about the shooting.
“I have spoken with Orange County Sheriff Blackwood and Dept. of Public Safety Secretary Buffaloe and pledged all state resources needed to capture the shooter and protect the UNC campus.”
“My office is in communication with law enforcement and officials at UNC-Chapel Hill who are taking precautions to protect campus following today’s shooting. This is a tragic way to start a new semester and the state will provide any assistance necessary to support the UNC community.”
Several images and videos have emerged from students sheltering in place on campus. Many told ABC11 that they were having trouble getting phone calls out, so they’ve been texting their parents.
One worried mother, Jennifer Reid, shared the conversation she had her son Michael, a student at UNC, on X, formerly known as Twitter, who is sheltering in place on campus.
(Jennifer Reid)
Mr Reid told The Independent that her son told her a SWAT team and officers are right across where he is located.
”No one should have to have these text exchanges with their child bc there’s an active shooter at their school. We have to do more to regulate guns in this country!!!” Ms Reid tweeted.
Samuel Schwartz, whose cousin Alex Schachter was murdered in the 2018 Parkland shooting, said he received video from a friend sheltering in place at UNC at Chapel Hill.
“I’ve got friends who go there and are in hiding right now,” Mr Schwartz tweeted. “They tell me they feel like they want to throw up and they’re watching the cops search the halls. This is daily life in America.”
Video footage showed a heavy police presence on the campus of the state’s flagship university, where the fall semester started last week.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools are in secure mode, which means all building doors are closed and locked.
The school district said elementary schools will not dismiss students until there is an all clear given at UNC.
“As a safety precaution, schools have been directed not to release students to their families at this time,” the district said.