A former student is in custody after allegedly gunning down a professor on the campus of the University of Arizona earlier this afternoon.
The suspected gunman was arrested shortly after 5 p.m. and identified as Murad Dervish, 46, university police announced at a press conference.
UA Police Chief Paula Balafas identified the victim as a professor in the Department of Hydrology, but said she would not be releasing his name.
Police say the on-campus shooting happened just after 2 p.m. inside the John W. Harshbarger Building – which houses the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.
‘Someone recognized the student and knew that he was not allowed inside the building,’ Balafas said.
It was not revealed not why Dervish was not allowed inside the building. A search for the gunman spanned over an hour, but was lifted after he was arrested off-campus.
Video posted to social media shows the scene outside the building as emergency officials carry a man out to a gurney and into a waiting ambulance
Police say the on-campus shooting happened just after 2 p.m. inside the John W. Harshbarger Building, near East Second Street and North Mountain Avenue
‘I don’t know what the suspect’s issue was in this case, but if you see something, don’t just say something but do something. If you know someone struggling with mental health issues or anger issues, please reach out,’ Balafas said.
Balafas said that just after 2 p.m. UA police received a call from someone inside the building that a former student was there and that the ex-student was not allowed inside the building. The person requested officers come to Harshbarger and escort the person out. Before officers arrived within a few minutes another caller reported a shooting inside the building.
The campus remained locked down and students and staff were asked to shelter in place for more than an hour as police searched for a gunman.
Video posted to social media shows a chaotic scene outside the building as emergency officials carry a man out to a gurney and into a waiting ambulance.
The victim was taken to Banner-University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Two people hug after a shooting at the John W. Harshbarger Building on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday
The campus remained locked down and students and staff were asked to shelter in place for more than an hour as police searched for a gunman