Woman opens fire at the University of Alabama Huntsville campus, killing 3 and injuring 3

Woman opens fire at Alabama campus, killing 3

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A woman opened fire in a biology faculty meeting at the University of Alabama’s Huntsville campus Friday, killing three people and injuring three others, two of them critically, officials said. The shooter was caught outside the Shelby Center, a science building, without incident, according to university spokesman Ray Garner. He said he could not identify her or the victims. Local media reported the shooter was a faculty member.

No students were involved, Garner said. All three of those killed and two of the injured were faculty members. The third injured person was a staff member.

Huntsville Hospital spokesman Burr Ingram said two of the injured were in critical condition and the third was in stable condition.

Sophomore Erin Johnson told The Huntsville Times a biology faculty meeting was under way when she heard screams coming from the room.

University police secured the building and students were cleared from it.

The Huntsville campus has about 7,500 students in northern Alabama, not far from the Tennessee line. The city is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

The university posted a message on its Web site Friday afternoon telling students the campus was closed Friday night and all students were encouraged to go home. Counselors were available to speak with students.

It’s the second shooting in a week on an area campus. Last Friday, a 14-year-old student was killed in a middle school hallway in nearby Madison, allegedly by a fellow student.

“This town is unaccustomed to shootings and multiple deaths,” Garner said.