Print this article

2 dead in murder-suicide at University of California campus

Last updated on: June 02, 2016 02:21 IST

Two men died on Wednesday in a murder-suicide at the University of California's Los Angeles campus, prompting a lockdown for two hours and a massive security deployment at the sprawling facility, AFP reported.

The shooting created a stir as police approached the scene fearing the shooter might still be active and university officials ordered the campus locked down.

IMAGE: A Los Angeles metro police officer stands watch on the University of California, Los Angeles campus after it was placed on lockdown following reports of a shooter in Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters

Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck said both victims were found with gunshot wounds in an office on campus. At least three shots were fired and a gun was found at the scene.

"At about 10:00 this morning a homicide and a suicide occurred in the engineering facility... of the UCLA campus on the south side," Beck told reporters. "It appears it is entirely contained."

"There is evidence there could be a suicide note but we don't know at this point," Beck added.

Hundreds of officers and tactical response teams as well as federal agents rushed to the university, where students are in the middle of final exams.

All university classes were cancelled for the day and the lockdown was lifted at around noon.

IMAGE: People shelter in place at the University of California, Los Angeles. Photograph: Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters

UCLA, with more than 43,000 enrolled students, is in the Westwood section of Los Angeles and one of the more well-regarded schools in the University of California system.

Students and staff on campus were urged to take cover when the shooting was first reported as officers went from building to building searching for a possible active shooter and other victims.

Many students and staff could be seen walking out of buildings with their arms raised.

Students said they received alerts on their phones from the university notifying them of the shooting and advising them to take shelter.

Several visibly shaken students told local media of hiding in bathrooms or classrooms as the situation unfolded.

IMAGE:Police officers conduct a search on people at the UCLA. Photograph: Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters

The White House said President Barack Obama had been notified of the California shooting and had asked his team to keep him updated on the situation.

Gun violence is a part of daily life in the US where readily-available firearms claim about 30,000 lives each year.

AGENCIES