At least eight people were taken to hospitals after an active shooter was reported on the Ohio State University campus Monday, authorities said.
One of those eight patients is in critical condition, Columbus Fire spokeswoman Rebecca Diehm said.
Campus officials urged people to shelter in place and avoid the Watts Hall area.
“Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College,” OSU Emergency Management tweeted Monday morning.
Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College.
— OSU Emergency Mngmnt (@OSU_EMFP) November 28, 2016
Watts Hall is the university’s materials science and engineering building.
OSU senior Anthony Falzarano, 22, said he was in class at the time of the shooting.
“We heard a lot of sirens. I was in class and everyone got a text message at the same time for the emergency alert,” he told CNN. “Someone said they heard popping right before we got the alert, but I didn’t hear it. We are in a shelter-in-place right now in the building next door. ”
https://twitter.com/_falzarano/status/803255052622303232
Falzarano said “there’s a lot of police and fire trucks and an ambulance outside the building.”
“The officers are putting on Kevlar vests and have big weapons,” he said. “I can’t see anyone going inside the building — there’s just so many cops here.”
Some students piled chairs against a door to barricade themselves.
I'm safe in a barricaded room. If you're on campus, get in a room and stay safe. pic.twitter.com/Gaw7gjTx6w
— Build More Bike Lanes (@goisles29) November 28, 2016
“I’m safe in a barricaded room,” Harrison Roth tweeted. “If you’re on campus, get in a room and stay safe.”
SopH0more Wyatt Crosher said he heard gunfire from across the street.
Police cars, fire truck and ambulance line 19th and College avenues near location where active shooter was reported pic.twitter.com/FKJXSMQnan
— The Lantern (@TheLantern) November 28, 2016
“My roommate and I heard about three or four gunshots from across the street, and soon after we heard a bunch of police and ambulances pull up across the street,” the 19-year-old said.
“We can’t see the building where the shooting happened because of a dorm blocking our view. It truly sounded like gunshots, and really soon after we heard a bunch of sirens. We can see the police cars from our dorm.”
Students were moved back from the scene as police investigated.
Students/bystanders have been moved back from the scene toward Arps Hall pic.twitter.com/c9NnyGPLqF
— The Lantern (@TheLantern) November 28, 2016
Ohio State University’s main campus in Columbus is one of the largest in the United States. The university has more than 65,000 students enrolled across the state.
In addition to local authorities, the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is on the ground in Columbus, spokesman Dave Coulson said.
(Justin Lear, Amanda Wills and Deb Feyerick contributed to this report)
-CNN
