A freshman student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona, was identified as the alleged gunman behind a shooting on the campus on Friday. At least one person was left dead and three others were injured.
During a press conference after the incident, Northern Arizona University Police Chief G.T. Fowler issued a statement, saying that “a lot of things need to be accomplished before we can release a great many details.” He added that “nothing happened” in the campus residence halls.
Instagram of reported Northern Arizona University shooting suspect Steven Jones http://t.co/JkyIaJLdrO #NAUshooting pic.twitter.com/ksa0WapN5S
— Arizona News (@ArizonaNewsnet) October 9, 2015
Jones, 18, didn’t run away from the scene and he is reportedly “cooperating” with authorities.
“Jones was involved in an altercation with students at the school, the nature of which remains unknown,” he said, per Newsweek. “We don’t know the facts yet about what brought [the students] together or what caused the confrontation,” the chief added.
The #NAUShooting suspect has been identified as 18 y/o Steven Jones – Cheif believes he’s a freshman pic.twitter.com/fNLwcBpgrZ
— WHNT (@whnt) October 9, 2015
Fowler said that two groups of students got into a confrontation in the campus parking lot before Jones allegedly opened fire on the group.
The shooting took place at around 1:20 a.m. local time, he said, according to USA Today.
UPDATE: Police say NAU shooter is 18-year-old Steven Jones http://t.co/7jwM7VRd8G pic.twitter.com/9orIC9k1ZT
— AZ Family (@azfamily) October 9, 2015
“Two separate student groups got into a confrontation, the confrontation turned physical and one of our students, Steven Jones, 18, produced a handgun and shot four of our other students,” Fowler added. “One of our students is deceased.”
Administrators identified the victims as Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek, and Nicholas Piring. The deceased student is Colin Brough, according to the paper.
“We had just left a party and were standing in the street getting ready to walk home when a guy walked up with a pistol and just started shooting,” said an eyewitness, who was not identified, told The Daily Sun.
“I heard five or six shots and then my friends just tackled him. They got him really quick. We were leaving and it all happened on the sidewalk across from Mountain View,” the witness continued.
Northern Arizona University Shooting: Steven Jones Revealed As Alleged Gunman http://t.co/P64CRuDD9q pic.twitter.com/Ew4k73W4YM
— Fashion News (@FashionOvernews) October 9, 2015
The gunman was tackled to the ground.
“He didn’t get a chance to hurt himself. I saw him in handcuffs when the cops came,” the person added.
NAU President Rita Cheng said the shooting was “isolated and unprecedented.”
