ROCKINGHAM, Va. — Two police officers were fatally shot during an ‘active shooter’ incident at Bridgewater College in Virginia Tuesday afternoon. A shelter in place was ordered on campus for hours.
The college first tweeted about the incident at at 1:24 p.m. — “Reports of active shooter on campus. Shelter in place.”
Reports of active shooter on campus. Shelter in place.
— Bridgewater College (@BridgewaterNews) February 1, 2022
“This is not a test. More info to follow,” a follow-up tweet said.
Continue to shelter in place. We will share more information when it's made available to us.
— Bridgewater College (@BridgewaterNews) February 1, 2022
Officials later said the suspected gunman was taken into custody alive but not before he shot and killed two officers.
Video captured the moment the shooter was taken down.
The fallen officers have been identified as Campus Safety Officer J.J. Jefferson and Campus Police Officer John Painter. Officer Jefferson was not armed at the time of the incident.
The suspected shooter was identified as 27-year-old Alexander Wyatt Campbell. He’s being held without bond on capital murder charges.
The college later released this statement: “At approximately 1:20 p.m. Feb. 1, 2022, the Bridgewater College Police Department, Town of Bridgewater Police Department, Virginia State Police, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, City of Harrisonburg Police, Augusta Sheriff’s Office, Town of Dayton Police Department, FBI and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries responded to a report of an active shooter on the Bridgewater College campus. The initial report came in that two officers had been shot and the armed suspect had fled the scene. State and local law enforcement immediately responded to the campus and initiated a massive search operation for the suspect. By 1:55 p.m., the male shooter was taken into police custody.”
A motive for the shooting remains unknown.
“I have been briefed on the situation at Bridgewater College,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “The shooter is in custody and state and local police are on the scene. I will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with law enforcement.”
A man was taken into custody by law enforcement following an active shooter alert at Bridgewater College on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Lin. @DNRnews https://t.co/C5w7DlGOs1 pic.twitter.com/TQPV7A9oMW
— Ian Munro – Daily News-Record (@iamIanMunro) February 1, 2022
Caleb Needle, senior at Bridgewater College, was in class & it suddenly became tense after the sounds of gunshots outside.@WHSVnews pic.twitter.com/9o1yC2mBrb
— Kyle Rogers (@WHSVKyle) February 1, 2022
“For additional safety purposes, law enforcement officials will be moving through buildings. Do not be alarmed. listen to officers’ instructions,” the school said.
The lockdown was later lifted.
An individual is in police custody. Situation is still ongoing. Continue to shelter where you are.
— Bridgewater College (@BridgewaterNews) February 1, 2022
Situation is ongoing. We are communicating with authorities. Will update. Text to let your loved ones know you are okay.
— Bridgewater College (@BridgewaterNews) February 1, 2022