At shooting at the entrance of Wingate University in Union, North Carolina has left two people dead, another hospitalized and a college on lockdown, reports WBTV. According to the college, the lockdown has been ordered by the Union County Sheriff’s Office and not the university.
The lockdown was issued at 6:17 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Suspect is Still at Large
There has been a shooting on East Wilson Street near the entrance to the College Park community. Stay tuned for further information.
— Wingate University (@WingateUniv) December 4, 2013
Reports indicate that two people are dead on East Wilson street close to the campus and another was airlifted to hospital. It’s not known if the victims are students.
#Wingate spokesperson tells #news14Carolina it's unclear this point if any of the victims were students or connected to university.
— Brad Broders (@news14Broders) December 5, 2013
Police in the area are still chasing the a suspect. The shooting is believed to have happened here:
2. A Full Lockdown Has Been Issued
Students and staff were are reported by WBTV to have been told:
Please remain calm. Move to the nearest building and close and lock all doors and windows. Close all blinds and turn off the lights.
A text was sent to students that read:
There has been a shooting on East Wilson Street near the entrance to the College Park community. Law Enforcement is on the scene and directing that the University shelter in place until further notice.
A school official stressed to News 14 that the shooting did not take place on campus but “just off it.” The college address is 315 East Wilson street.
The whole Wingate town is on lockdown.
— Marie . (@MarieBae_) December 5, 2013
Wingate on lockdown again. Pray for everyone's safety.
— Amy Underwood (@amyunderwood811) December 4, 2013
3. Students Do Not Appear Panicked During the Lockdown
Students appear calm during the shelter-in-place order:
4. This is the Second Lockdown in the School in 2 Weeks
This is the second lockdown on the campus in the last two weeks. During that incident, a student reported seeing a someone with a gun during an argument between two students. No gun was found and the lockdown was swiftly called off.
5. The School Has Nearly 3,000 Students, Most of Whom Live on Campus
It’s also the alma mater of late Republican Senator Jesse Helms. The school is a private university. According to the school’s official site:
Wingate University, ranked as the 8th “best value” in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport management, and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.