Monday, November 28, 2016

Armed attacker shot dead by cops after mowing down students with a car and stabbing them with a knife at Ohio State University leaving at least eight people injured

A suspect is dead after going on a rampage at Ohio State University Monday morning, injuring at least eight people.
A federal law enforcement official told CNN that there was only one attacker, who mainly used a knife and a car in the attack - countering earlier reports that there was a shooting. 
But exactly what happened at the campus remains unclear since the Columbus Post-Dispatch is reporting that there were two attackers - one armed with a gun, and the other with a knife. 
The chaos started around 10am, when a fire alarm was pulled at Watts Hall, home to the Materials Science and Engineering program. Witnesses say that as they were evacuating the building when a man driving a car mowed down the crowds of innocent bystanders.  
The attacker then reportedly got out of the car and started stabbing and slashing victims. The witness said that the knife-wielding man remained silent throughout the attack but had a 'crazed' look on his face. A responding officer shot the suspect dead.
After the incident at Watts Hall, the law enforcement focus shifted to a nearby parking garage. 
SWAT teams stormed the building just before 11am and minutes later two men, one black and one white, were led out in handcuffs.  It's unclear whether they are suspects in the attack. 
Just after 11:30am, the university lifted the shelter in place, but cancelled classes for the rest of the day. 
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An assailant was killed on Monday after going on a rampage at the Ohio State University. Above, a body is seen on the campus  
An assailant was killed on Monday after going on a rampage at the Ohio State University. Above, a body is seen on the campus  


Two men were led out from a parking garage in handcuffs during the rampage on Monday. It's unclear if they are suspects or persons of interest 
So far, at least eight people have been transported to the hospital. One is in critical condition and the rest are in stable condition. Four of the victims were transported to OSU's Wexner Medical Center, while the remaining were taken to other area hospitals.
Students were instructed to 'run, hide and fight' in a tweet posted by the school's office of emergency management just before 10am. 
'Run, hide, fight' is standard protocol for active shooter situations. It means: Run, evacuate if possible; Hide, get silently out of view; or Fight, as a last resort, take action to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter if your life is in imminent danger. 
A high-ranking faculty member who spoke to NBC 4 Columbus said that one of his colleagues was in Watts Hall at the time and was slashed in the leg with a machete.
An active shooter situation was reported around 10am Monday after an incident at Watts Hall (pictured above) 
An active shooter situation was reported around 10am Monday after an incident at Watts Hall (pictured above) 
SWAT teams later stormed the above parking garage. Shortly after, two other men were taken out of the garage in handcuffs
SWAT teams later stormed the above parking garage. Shortly after, two other men were taken out of the garage in handcuffs
The school's Office of Emergency Management published this tweet shortly before 10am 
The school's Office of Emergency Management published this tweet shortly before 10am 
Students were told to take shelter inside buildings while the active shooter situation was underway. Pictured are some who barricaded the door to their room closed with a pile of chairs 
Students were told to take shelter inside buildings while the active shooter situation was underway. Pictured are some who barricaded the door to their room closed with a pile of chairs 

Another student told the station that his girlfriend was in the building when gunshots rang out, and that she sought shelter in a bathroom. She has since been safely evacuated from the building, and taken to a nearby hospital for tear gas exposure. 
There was also a report that several students were hit by a car outside the building, which may or may not have been driven by the shooter.  
Several witness reports say that a fire alarm went off in Watts Hall Monday morning, and that people were evacuating from the building when a car plowed through the crowds.  
Police officers are seen sprinting after there were reports of an active shooter on the Ohio State University campus
Police officers are seen sprinting after there were reports of an active shooter on the Ohio State University campus
An officer and a police dog races to join the operation that took place in Columbus after an active shooter was reported on campus
OSU sophomore Wyatt Crosher, 19, was across the street when he says he heard gunshots Monday morning. 
He told CNN: 'My roommate and I heard about three or four gunshots from across the street, and soon after we heard a bunch of police and ambulances pull up across the street.' 

He added: 'We can't see the building where the shooting happened because of a dorm blocking our view. It truly sounded like gunshots, and really soon after we heard a bunch of sirens. We can see the police cars from our dorm.' 
Ohio State University is a public university located in Columbus, Ohio.  More than 58,000 students study at the school's main campus in Columbus and it is the state's largest employer. 
All classes at the school are cancelled today. Monday marked the first day back from classes since Thanksgiving break.
Facebook initiated a feature on Monday, allowing students and locals to mark themselves 'safe' on the website, to inform worried friends and relatives.  
The active shooter situation started at Watts Hall on the school's Columbus campus
The active shooter situation started at Watts Hall on the school's Columbus campus
Ohio Governor John Kasich tweeted Monday morning that his thoughts and prayers are with the college's community 
Ohio Governor John Kasich tweeted Monday morning that his thoughts and prayers are with the college's community 

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