BREAKING NEWS
The University of Texas at Austin remains on lock-down as police and SWAT teams continue to search for a possible second suspect in this morning’s shooting at the Perry-Castaneda Library.
At a press conference moments ago, both University of Texas Police Chief Robert Dahlstrom and Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo did not rule out the possibility of a second suspect still hiding on campus.
Still, neither chief would definitely say a second person remains at large.
“We are working the possibility of a second suspect,” Dahlstrom said. “We’re working all leads through until we can eliminate the possibility of a second suspect.”
No reports of injuries to students have been received.
Acevedo said officers and SWAT teams are conducting searches “within the inner perimeter” of the cordoned-off area. He also said trained explosive search dogs are checking campus buildings.
“Although there are reports of a second suspect, we are being methodical in eliminating the possibility of a second suspect,” Acevedo said.
Although initial reports from the scene said all shots were fired within the library, Acevedo said investigators are examining two crime scenes – the site on the library’s sixth flood where the shooter killed himself and an area outside of the library where the suspect fired randomly.
He also said an AK-47 assault rifle had been recovered from the library crime scene.
Both police chiefs said they have not yet identified the deceased suspect and have no motive for the shooting.
UT Professor Randall Wilhite said he saw the shooter running across the campus as he was arriving shortly after 8 a.m. Wilhite described the man as about 6-feet, 2-inches tall, Caucasian, dressed in a dark suit and black tie. The suspect was carrying an assault rifle and wearing a ski mask.
Wilhite said he heard shots and “saw students scrambling.” He then saw the suspect running toward the library.
“He was just randomly firing,” Wilhite said.
Prior to the police chiefs’ press conference, Clare Cardona, a reporter for the University of Texas newspaper “The Daily Texan” said she received confirmation of the existence of a second armed suspect from a “university police spokesman.”
She said the second suspect was reportedly barricaded in the Calhoun academic building. The Calhoun building is just west of the Perry-Castaneda Library, where the initial shooting occurred just after 8 a.m.
In a message sent out to UT students earlier this morning, University of Texas President Bill Powers said all classes have been cancelled.
“In the interest of keeping you up to date on the current emergency, I want you to know that the campus remains locked down. All students, faculty, staff, and visitors should stay indoors and continue to follow instructions (from loudspeakers, email, text messages, and uniformed police officers). You will be notified when the situation becomes stable,” Powers’ message said. “The armed suspect is dead. No other injuries have been reported. All organized classes for today, Sept. 28, are cancelled.”
Officers dressed in SWAT gear have been seen deploying and unloading armored vehicles near the site of the shooting.
Officers have the University of Texas Police Department, Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety have all responded to the campus to assist in the search.
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