Officials confirmed on Monday that a shooting incident at an Oklahoma college left one person dead and a suspect in custody.
Rose State College near Oklahoma City issued an active shooter warning shortly after reports of gunfire emerged from the Humanities Building at around 12:15 pm on April 24. A statement from the school advised everyone on campus to shelter in place and follow instructions from law enforcement officials. Students and staff at the college had just completed an exercise about what to do in the event of an active shooter a few weeks before the shooting occurred, according to Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter.
The Midwest City Assistant Fire Chief, Anthony Lopez, said one person died in the shooting. Following the suspect’s arrest, the school issued a statement saying that all buildings on campus were clear and the lockdown had been lifted a little over an hour after the initial warning. However, the school canceled all activities and classes for the day.
Police identified the shooter as 30-year-old Brandon Morrissette, who will be charged with murder in the first degree. According to Chief Porter, the dead victim and the suspect’s wife, both students at the college, were leaving a building when Morrissette confronted them and opened fire.
The Larry W. Nutter Administration Building and the neighboring Russell Vaught Humanities Building were the focal points of the police investigation. Reports suggest that the shooting occurred in the latter building, located in the northern part of the campus.
Rose State College was founded in 1970 and has around 13,000 students.
Despite the tragic incident, it is not yet clear whether the college plans to change its security protocols. Schools and universities around the country have been reviewing their safety procedures in the wake of several high-profile shootings over the past few years. In light of the incident, officials have also advised people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.