Fatal Shooting Reported at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff

A suspected shooter has now been detained after a deadly incident at Northern Arizona University's Flagstaff campus early on Friday morning, according to a university spokesperson.

— NAU (@NAU)October 9, 2015

At a press conference, NAU Police Chief GT Fowler stated that the incident took place outside Mountain View Hall on the northeast end of the Flagstaff Campus and that the first reports of firing came in at 1:20 AM. A fight reportedly broke out between two student groups. An 18-year-old freshman named Steven Jones is said to have pulled out a handgun, shooting four people.

Numerous reports and social media users have begun pointing to Twitter and Instagram accounts under the same name as the suspect, though no official connection has been announced.

The three victims are male and all members of the Delta Chi fraternity. The university identified the three wounded victims Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek, and Nicholas Piring. Colin Brough was killed in the shooting.

The Delta Chi fraternity released a statement confirming that members of the fraternity were involved in the shooting, but stressed that "the incident had no ties to the chapter." The organization offered thoughts and prayers to the victims.

Several students gathered before the conference began, many of them crying and wrapped in blankets. More than 20,000 students are enrolled at NAU, which is located approximately 140 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona.

Rita Cheng, the president of the university, said that classes are expected to go on as scheduled.

"This is not going to be a normal day at NAU," she said.

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, an anti-gun violence organization, there have been 46 school shootings so far this year, including today's. There have been 144 school shootings since 2013.

The university has set up a center in a ballroom on campus with a phone number for long-distance families to call and get further details about their students. The campus is not currently in lockdown.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said that agents from its Flagstaff office had arrived at the university. Additional agents are also en route from Phoenix.

According to the university's website, Mountain View Hall is a 574-bed facility that houses the majority of the fraternities and sororities on campus.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) released a statement following the shooting.

"My thoughts and prayers are with families of the person who was killed and the three others who were wounded in the horrific shooting on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff early this morning," he said. "I appreciate the efforts of all state and local law enforcement officials, first-responders and school administrators, and continue to pray for the recovery of the injured, as well as all those in the NAU community who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy."

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Photo via nau.edu