Two men were killed Wednesday in a murder-suicide in a UCLA engineering building, prompting fears of a possible active shooter on the campus and a leading to a wide-ranging sweep of the university by local and federal authorities.
The shootings sparked fears of terrorism, and were widely reported on national television and online.
Three shots were heard before 10 a.m. in Boelter Hall, which is part of the Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, according to the university. The entire campus was placed on lockdown and the Los Angeles Police Department went on a citywide tactical alert as officers swarmed the engineering building and campus.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said two men were found dead inside a small office in the building, and a note and a gun were found nearby. It’s unclear if the two men were students, staff or visitors. The relationship between them was also unknown.
“A homicide and a suicide occurred in the engineering part of the UCLA campus on the south side,” Beck said. “It appears it is entirely contained. We believe there are no suspects outstanding, and no continuing threat to UCLA’s campus.”
Beck said at least three shots were fired. He confirmed evidence was found at the scene “that could be a suicide note, but we do not know that at this point.” A gun was also recovered, he said.
Although the killings were determined to be a murder-suicide, police continued to thoroughly sweep through the building and several adjacent buildings “out of an abundance of caution.”
All classes were canceled for the day at the university.
The initial reports of a shooting prompted the university to send a “Bruin Alert” to all students and staff notifying them to avoid the area or shelter in place. Via social media, some students reported hunkering down in restrooms or classrooms.
As police began clearing classrooms, students were seen walking from buildings, often with their hands raised and some being subjected to pat-downs as they left.
Along with the LAPD and UCLA campus police, the FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives both dispatched agents to the campus.
Also responding to the scene were police from Santa Monica College, where a shooting spree occurred June 7, 2013, ending when officers killed the gunman in the campus library. Five other people died in that shooting.
Fairburn and Warner elementary schools and Emerson Middle School, all of which are located near UCLA, were placed on lockdown during the investigation, according to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
— City News Service