Ohio State University employee killed, 2 others wounded in maintenance building shooting

Employee killed, 2 wounded in Ohio State shooting

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A shooting Tuesday morning at an Ohio State University campus maintenance building left one employee dead and two others wounded, the university said. A suspect was taken into custody.

The shooting was first reported at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, university Police Chief Paul Denton said at a news conference. The two wounded workers were taken to Ohio State University Medical Center, where one was in critical condition and the other was in stable condition, he said. The third employee was pronounced dead at the scene.

Heavily armed campus officers searched buildings in the area, including a university power plant, and the person who police believe was responsible for the shooting was taken into custody, Denton said.

Police did not release any names. Investigators were trying to determine the suspect’s motive, Denton said.

Ohio State, the nation’s largest university, said no students were hurt and that classes would be held as scheduled.

“This is a tragic event, and our hearts go out to all of the families,” said Vernon Baisden, a university assistant vice president of public safety.

Graduate student Kiernan Gordon, 31, said he found out about the shooting from his wife, who called him on his cell phone while he was driving to campus. He said he didn’t have any concerns about his own safety.

“Ohio State is really a city unto itself, and like any city it has problems unto itself,” Gordon said.

The maintenance building where the shooting occurred is just east of Ohio Stadium, where the school’s football team plays.