1 dead in Purdue University shooting; suspect in custody
One person was fatally shot on Tuesday inside a classroom at Purdue University, police said.
Campus Police Chief John Cox told reporters that the gunman was arrested at the scene and apparently targeted his victim.
Chief Cox: didn't seem like an active shooter situation. Shooter seemed to be going for a specific person. #PurdueShooting
— Dave Bangert (@davebangert) January 21, 2014
The shooting took place at about noon in the electrical engineering building. Police said no one else was injured.
Suspect entered the bldg, shot the victim, and left. Did not attempt to target others
— Justin Mack (@justinlmack) January 21, 2014
The Lafayette Journal & Courier reported that Cody Cousins, 23, was being held without bond in connection with the killing. The Purdue Exponent, a campus news website, reported the man killed was a teaching assistant.
Investigators have not determined how the gunman knew his victim.
A few students, including Purdue punter Cody Webster, witnessed police capture the suspect. Kyle Siemers tweeted a photo of a man being escorted away by officers near the scene, but it is unknown if the individual in the photo is connected to the shooting.
@jconline purdue shooting pic.twitter.com/xYcQadNJP2
— Kyle M. Siemers (@KyleSiemers) January 21, 2014
The school was on lockdown for about an hour while authorities secured the campus. University officials lifted a campuswide alert at about 1:15 p.m. Later on Tuesday, the school announced that all classes were canceled through Wednesday.
About 40,000 students are enrolled at the school, including about 6,000 engineering students.
Purdue graduate Curt Hadley hid in a campus office after the shelter-in-place order and took the photo below. Hadley says he believes the man in the photo was an armed police officer searching for possible gunmen and victims. Hadley later tweeted that he and others were safe.
@davebangert It appears to be still active... pic.twitter.com/6ovhkQLRbg
— Curt Hadley (@CurtHadley) January 21, 2014
The school is organizing a candlelight vigil on Tuesday evening at the Engineering Fountain near Hovde Hall.
Yahoo News' Dylan Stableford contributed to this report.