A professor has reportedly been shot dead after a gunman opened fire at a university in Cleveland, Mississippi. The campus is on lockdown as police hunt the suspect.
Bolivar County Deputy Coroner Ted Ray would later identify Dr Ethan Schmidt as the victim, NBC News reported. Dr Schmidt leaves behind a wife and children. He was a professor of American history and author of several books.
Dr Ethan Smith appears on the university's Facebook page. (Delta State University/Facebook)
The shooting at Delta State University was reported at 10:40am on Monday after shots rang out at Jobe Hall, the university's auditorium.
"Please stay inside and away from windows," the university wrote on Twitter.
The Cleveland Police Department is assisting Delta State police with the investigation, the Clarion Ledger reported.
Helen Staten, a graphic design student at the university, uploaded Instagram footage as she was locked in the room next to where the shooting took place: "Shooting was in the building right next to the one I was in. Please keep is all in your prayers and well wishes."
Delta state president LaForge now at Jobe. pic.twitter.com/e8TIGUPwse
— Bolivar Commercial (@BolivarCom) September 14, 2015
More than 4,000 students are enrolled at the university. Students and faculty were effectively escorted from the college campus.
