Dallas Morning News
COMMERCE, Texas — Two people were fatally shot and another was wounded at a Texas A&M University-Commerce residence hall.
University officials told students and faculty and staff members to remain sheltered in place Monday while the university investigates the shootings at the Pride Rock residence hall. The shelter-in-place request was posted on Twitter at 11:53 a.m. and was lifted shortly before 1:30 p.m.
The university confirmed the two deaths and said a third victim was being treated at a hospital. Details about the condition of the wounded person were not released.
Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day, the university said on Twitter and on its website.
The investigation is taking place at Pride Rock, a three-story residence hall for freshmen.
Larry Cooper III, a freshman at the university, lives in Pride Rock. He said he left his room, which is on the second floor, just before the shelter-in-place was announced.
“I actually left earlier than I usually leave,” he said. “If I hadn’t left my room a few minutes earlier I would be stuck in my room right now. Anyone still on the second floor can’t leave their room.”
He said he’s waiting in a friend’s room on the first floor of the residence hall during the shelter-in-place with a few other students.
“There’s police blocking the doorways, but other than that we’re all just kind of sitting in and waiting on the news to happen,” Cooper said.
Although the campuswide shelter-in-place request was lifted, the Pride Rock residence hall and surrounding areas were still blocked Monday afternoon. University police had stationed officers throughout campus, including all key gathering points.