(CNN)— A suspect appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a shooting at Michigan State University left 3 people dead and injured 5 others Monday evening, police said.
At least three people have died and five others were injured after shots were fired at two locations at Michigan State University, prompting shelter-in-place orders amid a search for a suspect who remains at large Monday evening, campus police said.
The incident began at 8:18 p.m. ET at Berkey Hall, where several shooting victims were found, Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman said. Immediately after, another shooting was reported nearby at the Michigan State University Union Building, he said.
The shooting prompted orders to “secure-in-place immediately” as hundreds of officers from multiple agencies converged on the campus.
“Police and emergency responders acted quickly. We tended to the victims at both of those scenes,” Rozman said.
At least five people were taken to a hospital, some of them with life threatening injuries, according to Rozman.
The campus community is still being asked to shelter in place as police search for the suspect, who was last seen leaving the MSU Union on foot on the north side of the building, police said.
The suspect was described as being a short male, last seen wearing red shoes, a jean jacket and a ballcap.
“Please do not come to campus. I can’t say that enough,” Rozman said. “For parents, we understand. I can only imagine the emotion that’s involved right now. It’s going to help us and it’s going to help our response and it’s going to help us identify the shooter the less people that are on campus at this point.”
All classes, athletics and campus-related activities at MSU are canceled for 48 hours, MSU police said as officers in tactical gear swarmed the university. “Please DO NOT come to campus tomorrow,” they said.
Around 10:10 p.m., police tweeted that Berkey Hall and other several campus buildings were cleared, including Brody Hall, Snyder/Phillips Hall, Mason Hall, Abbot Hall, Landon Hall and the MSU Union.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she was being briefed on the shooting at the university.
“I’ve been briefed on the shooting at Michigan state University. The Michigan State Police along with @msupolice, local law enforcement and first responders are on the ground. Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan Community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more,” the governor tweeted.
MSU student Chris Trush told CNN he saw people running out of the Union building — a congregation spot for students on campus — shortly before an emergency alert went out to students informing them of the shooting on campus.
Trush said he was watching TV just after 8 p.m. in his apartment when he saw police cars and ambulances speeding down Grand River Avenue. He then saw people running out of the Union building.
“That’s when I knew something’s really up,” he said.
Trush said he saw dozens of officers begin to swarm the area with long rifles, and realized a shooting had taken place.
“I’m obviously not going to go outside for the next couple of days,” he said.
Another MSU student, Nithya Charles, told CNN she was sheltering in place within a lounge area at Campbell Hall on the north side of campus.
“We’re not learning very much so much,” Charles told CNN’s Erin Burnett, explaining that she’s sheltering with about 30 other people. She said she did not hear any gunshots herself, but said some of her co-workers heard shots.
“Everyone is obviously kind of stressed, but seems to be calm now,” Charles said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was first published on CNN.com, “Suspect has died of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after mass shooting at Michigan State University left 3 dead and 5 injured, police say.”
