Update, 6:45 p.m.: Parents are seen entering the university’s preschool program, the Children’s Center, one by one to pick up their children. Several parents said that pickup is usually around 4:00 p.m., but they were asked to arrive later due to the shooting.
Update, 5:45 p.m.: Officers can be seen entering the campus building and searching it, floor by floor.
Update, 5:30 p.m.: School buses are being used to evacuate students from a nearby elementary school.
Update, 5:00 p.m.: The university remains on lockdown.
Morrisville, NY — The SUNY Morrisville campus is on lockdown Monday after a 20-year-old man was shot in the neck.
Around 3:16 p.m., a “hysterical” person called 911 to report a man with a gunshot wound inside South Hall, according to dispatches from the Madison County 911 Center.
According to a press release from the State Police, deputies found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the neck. Deputies indicated the injured man is not a student at the university.
According to deputies, no one else was injured during the incident.
Civilians are asked to avoid the area, according to Samantha Field, a spokesperson for Madison County.
A helicopter was requested to transport the man to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, but the service was canceled due to inclement weather. An ambulance was transporting the victim to the hospital, according to 911 calls.
According to 911 dispatches, a SWAT team and a search dog were dispatched.
Following the shooting, a suspect was seen fleeing South Hall, according to 911 dispatchers. A security perimeter was established, and law enforcement was proceeding to evacuate the building, according to 911 reports.
The university issued the following message to staff and students: “Active shooter. Shelter in place. University police will be responding to designated areas. Everyone remain in the room you are in. Once the hallways are cleared, proceed to the nearest supervised room. Lock your doors.”
South Hall is a student residence located in the southeast corner of the campus.
At 5:00 p.m., flashing alarm lights could be seen on campus buildings, accompanied by a repeated audible message: “This is an emergency.” The campus is on lockdown. Shelter in place and await further instructions.
Fire trucks and police cars are blocking all entrances to the campus.
At 4:50 p.m., university officials posted on social media that “students currently in class should remain in place. Please stay where you are until the lockdown is lifted.”
An employee at Byrne’s Dairy, located next to the campus, told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that employees sheltered in place after being notified of the shooting by a manager. The employee, who preferred not to be named, said they took refuge in the walk-in cooler at the back of the store.
According to 911 dispatches, law enforcement notified nearby Morrisville Elementary School, which was about to dismiss students for the school day.
At approximately 5:15 p.m., school buses full of students could be seen leaving the elementary school.
