29-8-2023 (NORTH CAROLINA) A faculty member was tragically killed in a shooting incident at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Monday afternoon. The incident led to a campus-wide lockdown as authorities searched for the gunman. A suspect is now in custody, announced school officials.
The gunfire was reported at 1:02 p.m. ET within the university’s Caudill Laboratories. Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, confirmed that a suspect was apprehended shortly after 2:30 p.m.
WATCH THE MOMENT: UNC CHAPEL HILL SHOOTING. SIRENS GO OFF.
Today at 1pm, we were alerted of an armed dangerous suspect on campus. We were told to take shelter in buildings.
There was one confirmed dead.
By coincidence I captured this whilst filming the beautiful scenic views… pic.twitter.com/DJzfPXh8GW
— Muhsin Mahmud (@MuhsinMahmud) August 29, 2023
As of now, the identities of both the faculty member and the suspect have not been disclosed. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, according to UNC Police Chief Brian James. He emphasized the importance of understanding the “why” behind this incident.
The firearm used in the shooting has yet to be located, Chief James added.
It is presently unclear whether there was any prior connection between the victim and the assailant. Chief James expressed hope that this would become clear through interviews with the suspect and potential witnesses.
Chancellor Guskiewicz described the incident as “devastating” and acknowledged that it has disrupted the trust and sense of safety within the campus community. He pledged efforts to rebuild this sense of trust and security.
The university had issued an alert to students around 1 p.m. instructing them to shelter in place, later indicating that a suspect was on the loose. An “all clear” was issued by the university just before 4:15 p.m.
In response to the situation, all classes and campus activities for Monday and Tuesday were canceled.
During the lockdown, university police advised students to seek shelter immediately, secure windows and doors, and await further instructions.
Witnesses reported armed officers conducting searches on campus. Video footage from CNN affiliate WRAL showed numerous police vehicles on campus with flashing emergency lights. At times, individuals were seen exiting nearby buildings in a single-file manner with their hands raised.
A WRAL reporter captured footage of campus police detaining an individual in handcuffs. The person was dressed in dark clothing, jeans, and glasses at the time of the lockdown.
This incident occurred during the second week of the fall semester at the university. UNC-Chapel Hill has a student body of approximately 32,000, with over 4,000 faculty members and 9,000 staff.
