MOUNT PLEASANT, MI (RNN) - Police asked for the public's help in finding a suspect on the loose after two people were fatally shot on Central Michigan's campus Friday.
Central Michigan police identified the suspect as 19-year-old James Eric Davis Jr. They described him as a 5-foot-10 black male, approximately 19 years old and weighing about 135 pounds. The spokesman did not identify the people who died but said they were not students, staff or faculty at the university, calling the incident a domestic situation.
The spokesman said the suspect was in contact with police Thursday night, in response to a possible overdose. Davis was taken to a hospital and released Friday morning.
Authorities would not confirm the Detroit Free Press report that the deceased were the suspect's parents, stating they need to tell next of kin before releasing the names to the public.
No one else is believed injured at this time. The shooting happened at Campbell Hall, a dormitory on campus.
The university went into lockdown and advised all students to seek shelter in a message via Twitter. A robocall also went out to people on the campus, telling them a suspect is on the loose.
CMU police confirm two individuals were fatally shot at Campbell Hall on campus this morning. The deceased are not students and police believe the situation started from a domestic situation. There are no additional injuries; suspect is still at large: https://t.co/AxvPn3N0s0
— Central Michigan U. (@CMUniversity) March 2, 2018
CMU police are leading the search, with assistance from State Police providing aviation, K9 and emergency support, MSP said.
Central Michigan University was established in 1892, and is one of the largest universities in the state.
With more than 20,000 students on it’s campus and 7,000 enrolled online, the school is also one of the nation's 100 largest public universities. It is located about 55 miles west of Saginaw.
Campbell Hall is located in the West Campus section of CMU and is part of a series of four connected dorm and classroom buildings. It contains four-person, single bedrooms and two bathroom suites, and are smoke free, according to the school's website.
#Breaking: Intense search for @CMUniversity student wanted for on-campus double homicide continues. The victims are not students.#Local4 pic.twitter.com/1BCZbdP3ne
— Shawn Ley (@ShawnLeyLive) March 2, 2018
This incident comes a little more than two weeks after a gunman opened fire with an AR-15 style weapon at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Seventeen people were killed and fourteen were injured.
Students who survived the mass shooting have forced the gun control debate back into the the national spotlight, and are organizing a march later this month.
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