A multiple shooting on the campus of a university in Virginia, US, has left at least one person dead and eight injured, state officials have said.
At least 20 people have been killed and more injured after a gunman went on the rampage at the campus of Virginia Tech university in Virginia, US.
The shootings at Virginia Tech reportedly took place at West Ambler Johnston Hall, a student dormitory, and Norris Hall, an engineering building.
Police say there were two separate shooting incidents - one at West Ambler Johnston Hall, a student dormitory, and Norris Hall, an engineering building.
Police say a suspect is in custody, but students have been advised to stay indoors while sweeps are carried out.
The incidents were about two hours apart. Police say that the gunman at Norris Hall is dead.
The state university in the town of Blacksburg is home to 26,000 students.
The state university in the town of Blacksburg is home to 26,000 students.
"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dormitory where the shooting took place told the Associated Press news agency.
"We have a ballpark figure on fatalities. It's at least 20 fatalities," Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum said.
"We're all locked in our dorms surfing the internet trying to figure out what's going on," Aimee Kanode, another resident at the dormitory, said.
Mr Flinchum said it was unclear if the assailant was a student, but said that a number of the victims were.
"Those on campus are asked to remain where they are, lock their doors and stay away from windows," a message posted on the university's website said.
"Some of the victims were shot in a classroom," he said.
"Police have one shooter in custody and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter," the message also said.
"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said, adding that the university was in the process of informing the next of kin of those killed.
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