Mississippi Campus on Lockdown, Professor Dead in Active Shooter Situation

A professor employed by Delta State University in Mississippi has been gunned down by an active shooter at Delta State University, a Bolivar County Deputy Coroner confirmed Monday, and the campus shooter remains at large, according to reports.

Dr. Shannon S. Lamb, 45, has been identified by Gautier police man as the possible shooter. According to Delta State University’s website, Lamb is a professor in its social sciences department.

A University spokesman told the Associated Press that an “active situation” still presents itself and the campus is on lockdown, which began when the mayhem commenced at 10:45 a.m. local time.

The slain man has been identified as Dr. Ethan A. Schmidt, who taught as an American History professor at the school. Schmidt, who is in his mid 50s, leaves behind a wife and children. He was shot while in his office, the AP reported.

Delta State University is a 3,500-student strong publicly-funded school near the Arkansas-Mississippi border area.

The University’s Twitter account has been active in informing the campus community about the ongoing situation. As of 1:11 P.M. Eastern, the school remained on lockdown.

 

SCHOOLCAST: An active shooter has been spotted on campus near Jobe Hall. Please take immediate lock down action.

— Delta State (@DeltaState) September 14, 2015

Delta State University has confirmed one fatality. Campus remains under lockdown. Please stay inside and away from windows.

— Delta State (@DeltaState) September 14, 2015

 

Campus remains under lockdown. Please do not leave the building. Stay away from windows. More information will be sent out as available.

— Delta State (@DeltaState) September 14, 2015

“Fortunately for us, our public safety officers and university officials have trained many of us for active shooter situations,” Delta State English professor Don Allan Mitchell told the AP. “Many students are locked-down in classrooms, and professors and staff members are telling them the protocol. Plus, we are all texting and Facebooking each other to make sure we are safe.”

Another professor, Bill Hays, told the AP that “It’s really frustrating because there is no campus-wide updating from a central command center. Everything we’re getting is just rumors.”

Both professors mentioned the presence of sophisticated police apparatus on scene, which included helicopters and a SWAT team.