This article is more than

8 year old
United States

Two men killed in murder-suicide at UCLA

Author: News Australia
June 1, 2016 at 15:44
TWO men have been killed in a tragic murder-suicide at the University of California, Los Angeles, forcing the campus into lockdown.

LAPD chief C-harlie Beck confirmed the shooter was one of the two men killed inside a small office in the campus’ engineering complex.

“The important thing for people to take away f-rom this is the campus is now safe,” Beck said at a news conference.

The identity of the men, and the shooter’s motive, have not been disclosed.

The campus was placed on lockdown just after 10am Wednesday (3am Thursday AEST), with KTLA reporting the shooting occurred at the campus’ Engineering IV building. The shooting was first reported at Boelter Hall, on the south of the campus.

 

 

The school’s newspaper, the Daily Bruin, reported the suspect was a white male who was wearing a black jacket and black pants.

The shooting sparked a massive response f-rom local and federal law enforcement, with thousands of people on campus running for safety and locking themselves in classrooms.

 

Harrowing photos showed people hiding in classrooms, some securing doors with belts because they wouldn’t lock.

Rafi Sands, vice president of UCLA’s student government, said he and about 30 other students were forced to lock their classroom door with belts.

 

 

Sean Lynch, the son of a professor who worked in the engineering building, said his father was in a colleague’s office and heard three gunshots, The Los Angeles Timesreported.

Student Jason La, 33, was taking a test in Boelter Hall when a cop walked in and told the class to lock the door and barricade it. They were asked to leave a minute later.

 

 

 

 

Mehwish Khan, a 21-year-old psychobiology student, said she took cover in the library immediately after the shooting.

“The whole campus just started running and I started running too,” she said, according to KTLA.

“Everyone was very confused. We got in a building, and no one knew what was going on. A lot of people thought it was a joke or a drill.”

She said she received a number of messages f-rom family and friends who provided conflicting information.

“Okay. Just scared. And scared for all of my friends,” Khan asked when asked how she was feeling.

Police respond to a fatal shooting at the University of California, Los Angeles. Picture: KABC-7 via AP

Police respond to a fatal shooting at the University of California, Los Angeles. Picture: KABC-7 via APSource:AP

Police respond to a report of a possible shooter at the University of California, Los Angeles. Picture: KABC-7 via AP

Police respond to a report of a possible shooter at the University of California, Los Angeles. Picture: KABC-7 via APSource:AP

Officers rushed to the University of California's Los Angeles campus. Picture: AFP/Robyn Beck

Officers rushed to the University of California's Los Angeles campus. Picture: AFP/Robyn BeckSource:AFP

Hundreds of officers, including SWAT teams, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and Federal agents, rushed to the scene.

UCLA shooting

Police response

 

 

Authorities urged people to avoid the area around the campus, with the city of Los Angeles on tactical alert. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown.

The university has some 43,000 students enrolled at the massive campus, according to its website.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline’s 24-hour telephone counselling service on 1800 543 354 or visitlifeline.org.au.

Keywords
You did not use the site, Click here to remain logged. Timeout: 60 second