SEVEN people have been taken to hospital with injuries after a reported shooting at Ohio State University.
The Columbus Fire Department said two of the casualties were in a stable condition, but provided no information on the other five.
United States media are reporting that a suspect has died and nine people were injured in the incident.
The university placed the campus on lockdown and sent a tweet to students warning them to “Run Hide Fight”.
“Continue to shelter in place in north campus area. Follow directions of Police on scene,” authorities tweeted.
BBC reported that the university, located in Columbus, has 60,000 students.
Local media reports that police need time to secure the campus, which is one of the largest colleges in the US.
Federal officials from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also responding.
The shooting reportedly began around 10:00 local time near Watts Hall, the college’s materials science and engineering building.
“The first thing I heard were screams,” student Cydney Ireland told ABC News.
“Probably five seconds after that there were three gunshots and it sounded like a handgun.
“And I’ve never seen anything like it. Everybody was running in any direction they possibly could.”
According to the school newspaper, The Lantern, police have surrounded the Lane Avenue parking garage, where an officer at the scene said a suspected shooter was believed to be inside.
A bomb squad was also at the scene, the newspaper reported.
“Ohio’s thoughts and prayers go out to the Ohio State community,” Ohio Governor John Kasich tweeted.
“Be safe, listen to first responders,” he added.