Two people were killed in a possible murder-suicide shooting on the Penn State Beaver campus on Wednesday, CBS Pittsburgh reports. None of the campus’s approximately 700 students were involved in the shooting, but according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the shooting occurred outside the food services building in a parking lot, leading to an evacuation of the area and closing of the school.
The school sent out a warning about the incident before 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, The Times says. Initially warning others to stay away from the affected area and initiating lockdown procedures, the school soon clarified that the shooting was contained and that there was no threat to others on campus. Although the victims’ identities have yet to be released, Pennsylvania State police troopers told CBS that a female food services employee was shot outside by her estranged husband, who then shot and killed himself.
April Johnston-Smith, public relations director at @PennStateBeaver, verified a murder-suicide occurred on campus this afternoon. No students were involved. pic.twitter.com/sPPLJvNwm7
— Kate Malongowski (@BCTkate) December 13, 201
University spokeswoman April Johnston-Smith reported that all non-essential staff and faculty were sent home after the shooting, while Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier shared that authorities quickly gained control of the situation once emergency calls came in. According to the Times, the deadly incident appears to be the only official case of “negligent manslaughter” and other violent crime scenarios on the Beaver campus since 2013, which is the earliest available year in the federal campus safety’s records.
A message from Penn State Beaver Chancellor Jenifer Cushman appeared on the campus’s Facebook page, reading, “A police investigation is underway and additional details will be released as they become available. We understand that this is a traumatic event for our campus community. Students, faculty and staff who may be in need may contact counseling services.”
The campus will reportedly remain closed until Thursday morning, but all finals scheduled for Thursday have been postponed to Friday. Our thoughts are with our friends at Penn State Beaver during this frightening time.