Three dead, two injured after shooting near University of Cincinnati

A shooting near the University of Cincinnati campus left three people dead and two injured in the early hours of Monday morning.

According to WXIX-TV, WCPO-TV and USA TodayCincinnati Police Department officers were patrolling the area of ​​Highland and East University avenues at 2:50 a.m. when they heard several gunshots nearby.

The students were informed of the incident a few minutes later.

“UC Emergency – Police are responding to a reported emergency at Highland/E University. If you are not in danger, remain in your location. Be observant/take appropriate action,” reads a message posted at 2:54 a.m. on X by the university’s public safety department.

Minutes later, the department confirmed on X that police were on scene, further advising community members to stay indoors and that “more information” would be available soon.

Upon arrival, officers found four male victims, one of whom was pronounced dead at the scene, media reported. The other three victims were taken to local hospitals, where two of them were pronounced dead. A fifth victim also showed up at the hospital later, media reported.

While the incident remains under investigation, police reportedly saw someone enter a home with a gun and were taken into custody. It is not yet known if that person was the shooter. PEOPLE has reached out to the Cincinnati Police Department for comment.

About an hour after the first alert went out, the University of Cincinnati Department of Public Safety posted on X: “UC Emergency: ALL CLEAR. Officers responded to Highland/E University for a shooting. The suspect is in custody and police will maintain a heavy presence.”

Neighborhood resident Ronald Caulton recalled hearing gunshots during an interview with WCPO-TV.

“I was laying in bed and I started hearing what sounded like gunshots, about four gunshots. I say somebody had a really early Fourth of July party and then after that there was maybe eight or nine more gunshots, right? And I thought, 'Oh my God!' I say that's not firecrackers,” Caulton said.

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“I said it was gunshots, you know, and then my daughter was already in there calling 911,” he added.