A shooting near the University of Cincinnati campus left three people dead and two others injured in the early hours of Monday morning.
According to WXIX-TV, WCPO-TV, and USA Today, officers from the Cincinnati Police Department were patrolling the area of Highland and East University avenues at 2:50 a.m. when they heard multiple gunshots nearby.
Students were notified about the incident minutes later.
“UC Emergency- Police responding to emergency reported on Highland/E University. If safe, stay at your location. Be observant/take action as needed,” a 2:54 AM post on X from the university’s public safety department reads.
Raymond Boyd/Getty
A few minutes later, the department confirmed on X that police were on the scene, further advising community members to stay indoors and that “more info” would be available soon.
Upon arrival, police found four male victims, one of whom was pronounced dead at the scene, the outlets reported. The three other victims were transported to local hospitals, where two of them were pronounced dead. A fifth victim also showed up at the hospital later, the outlets reported.
While the incident remains under investigation, police reportedly saw someone run into a home with a firearm, and was later placed in police custody. It remains unclear if that person was the shooter. PEOPLE has reached out to the the Cincinnati Police Department for comment.
Getty
About an hour after the first alert went out, the University of Cincinnati’s public safety department wrote on X, “UC Emergency:ALL CLEAR Officers responded to Highland/ E University for a shooting. Suspect in custody and police will maintain heavy presence.”
Area resident Ronald Caulton recalled hearing shots break out in an interview with WCPO-TV.
“I was laying in my bed and I started hearing something that sounds like shotguns, about four blasts. I say somebody celebrating the 4th very early and then after that, there was maybe about eight or nine other shots, right? And I’m like ‘Good heavens!’ I say that’s not no firecrackers,” said Caulton.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
“I say that’s gunshots, you know, and so then my daughter, she was already in there calling 911,” he added.
