Virginia Tech Shooting - December 8, 2011

Virginia Tech Shooting - December 8, 2011

Virginia Tech officials said a police officer and another individual were killed in a shooting incident inside the school's campus Thursday. The university has been put on lockdown.

Below is the statement released by the Virginia Tech which was posted on its website:

BLACKSBURG, Va., Dec. 8, 2011 – Shortly after noon today, a Virginia Tech police officer stopped a vehicle on campus during a routine traffic stop in the Coliseum parking lot near McComas Hall

During the traffic stop. the officer was shot and killed. There were witnesses to this shooting.

Witnesses reported to police the shooter fled on foot heading toward the Cage, a parking lot near Duck Pond Drive. At that parking lot, a second person was found. That person is also deceased.

Several law enforcement agencies have responded to assist. Virginia State Police has been requested to take lead in the investigation

The status of the shooter is unknown. The campus community should continue to shelter in place and visitors should not come to campus.

According to a Twitter alert issued by the school, the suspect is "a white male, wearing gray sweat pants, gray hat w/neon green brim, maroon hoodie and backpack."

"Reports of recent sounds ID'd as gunshots and suspicious activity on campus have been investigated and are unfounded. Stay where you are," it added.

In April 2007, 33 people died and 25 were wounded in a shooting incident happened the campus of Virginia Tech or the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A. - considered as the deadliest mass shooting in modern history of the country.