University of North Carolina at Charlotte shooting: what we know
At least two people were killed at UNC Charlotte, and the shooter is in custody.
At least two people were killed and at least four were injured in a shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Tuesday, police officials said at a news conference.
The suspect is in custody, police confirmed. He’s believed to be a male student, but officials have not publicly identified him.
The university’s Office of Emergency Management issued an alert at 5:50 pm local time telling students and staff to secure themselves. At 7:39 pm, the local police department tweeted that the scene was secure and the lone suspect was in custody. But the school remained on lockdown.
The story is still developing. Here’s what we know, and don’t, so far.
What we know
- At 5:50 pm local time on Tuesday, UNC Charlotte’s Office of Emergency Management tweeted that shots were reported near the school’s Kennedy building. Law enforcement secured the scene by 7:39 pm local time, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department tweeted.
- At least two people were killed and at least four more injured, UNC Charlotte Police Chief Jeff Baker said at a press conference. Three of the four have life-threatening injuries, Baker added.
- Police took the suspect — reportedly a male student — into custody. But Baker refused to publicly identify him, citing the ongoing investigation.
- The school remained on lockdown, as of 8:48 pm local time, while police cleared buildings. “Remain in a safe location,” the school’s Office of Emergency Management tweeted earlier in the night.
- A student posted video of people on campus evacuating the area.
@FOX46News #uncc shooting police evacuating kids pic.twitter.com/pIBgWCZ988
— jordan :) (@jordaypearce) April 30, 2019
- The school has more than 26,500 students, as well as 3,000 faculty and staff, according to the Associated Press. It’s reportedly the last week of class.
- The campus was to host a concert the night of the shooting.
- Prior to the UNC Charlotte shooting, there had been at least 106 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The organization defines mass shootings as events in which four or more people, excluding the shooter, were shot but not necessarily killed in a similar time and place.
What we don’t know
- The identities of the victims
- The identity of the shooter
- The motivation for the shooting