• State and native legislation enforcement instantly responded to the campus and initiated a large search operation for the suspect, says police.
• The suspect was later apprehended, says Virginia state police. 
• The officers recognized by the college as John Painter and J.J. Jefferson.

Washington: Two campus police officers have been shot and killed at a college in the US state of Virginia Tuesday, the college mentioned.

The 2 brokers, a campus legislation enforcement officer and a campus security officer, have been shot earlier than a suspect fled the scene, Virginia State Police mentioned in an announcement on Twitter.

A number of legislation enforcement companies arrived on the campus of Bridgewater College round 1:20 pm (1620 GMT) in response to lively shooter experiences, in response to the identical assertion, which the college additionally posted to its web site.

The suspect was later apprehended, Virginia State Police mentioned.

“State and local law enforcement immediately responded to the campus and initiated a massive search operation for the suspect,” the assertion mentioned.

The city of Bridgewater, about two and a half hours south of the US capital of Washington and the place Bridgewater College is positioned, despatched out an alert round 1:30 pm warning of an lively shooter scenario, native media reported.

The college issued an all-clear discover on its web site round 4:30 pm.

A number of college students advised the Washington Put up they heard pictures close to a classroom constructing on campus, the paper reported, and needed to shelter in place for greater than three hours.

One pupil, 21-year-old, Kasey Truslow, advised the Put up she heard a gunshot exterior the window of the constructing.

“After the second shot, we got on the floor. We remained on the floor for an hour,” she mentioned.

“My teacher barricaded the door with a big desk with computer monitors on it. We stayed there. There was a secondary door that the students blocked.”

The college had continued to tweet updates all through the incident, telling college students, “Use these alerts as the only reliable source of information.”

Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin tweeted, “I have been briefed on the situation at Bridgewater College. The shooter is in custody and state and local police are on the scene.”

The officers have been recognized by the college as John Painter and J.J. Jefferson.

The pair “were shot and killed on campus while protecting us,” an announcement from college president David Bushman on its web site mentioned.

“These officers were close friends, known to many of us as the ‘dynamic duo.’ John was J.J.’s best man in his wedding this year. They were beloved by students, faculty and staff. I hurt for their families and loved ones, as I know we all do,” the assertion continued.

Bridgewater Mayor Ted Flory posted an announcement on the small city’s web site.

“Bridgewater is shocked by today’s senseless violence at Bridgewater College,” Flory mentioned. “We are heartbroken by the needless injuries and loss of life.”

The mayor praised the officers for his or her efforts in responding to the shooter experiences.

“In this goodness, we find the strength to go forward and to offer our love to victims’ families and to the entire Bridgewater College Community,” he mentioned.