A UNIVERSITY gunman smirked while being arrested after two people were killed and four were wounded in a mass shooting at a US campus on the final day of classes last night.

University of North Carolina Charlotte was put on lockdown after the gunman opened fire at 5.40pm local time (9.40pm GMT) - sparking chaotic scenes as students ran for cover.

18 The moment that the alleged gunman, a smirking Trystan Andrew Terrell, is led away by cops

18 A huge police and emergency response at UNC Charlotte last night, where a gunman killed two and injured four Credit: AFP or licensors

18 Panicked locals sit in shock in the aftermath of the campus bloodbath Credit: AFP or licensors

18 A shattered door at the UNC Charlotte campus, where a mass shooting took place Credit: Twitter

Suspected gunman appears to be bundled into SWAT car after opening fire at UNC Charlotte

A suspect - named by police last night as 22-year-old student Trystan Andrew Terrell - was arrested shortly after the rampage, which sparked a huge police response.

Two people were found dead at the scene and two others have suffered life-threatening injuries, medics said.

A further two victims have injuries that are not life-threatening, Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency said.

Police in Charlotte said they had charged Terrell, who is in custody, with two counts of murder and four of attempted murder.

The university’s chancellor, Philip Dubois, said in a statement today: "This is the saddest day in UNC Charlotte’s history.

"Earlier this evening, the unthinkable happened on our campus.

"At approximately 5.40pm, an individual opened fire in a UNC Charlotte classroom, cutting short the lives of two members of our community and seriously injuring four others.

"Families of the deceased victims are being notified, and university staff are with those who are injured.

"The entire UNC Charlotte community shares the shock and grief of this senseless, devastating act.

"The suspected shooter is in custody and lives were saved thanks to [emergency officials'] rapid response."

18 Trystan Terrell, shown here days before the campus shooting - wearing the same t-shirt that he was pictured in during his arrest Credit: Instagram

18 Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office mugshot of alleged shooter Trystan Terrell Credit: AP:Associated Press

Authorities say Terrell used a pistol to open fire on students in a classroom building.

The alleged gunman's stunned grandfather, Paul Rold of Arlington, Texas, said: "This is not in his DNA."

Dramatic mobile phone footage captured the moment cops cuffed the suspected shooter and bundled him into a waiting police car.

The clip shows a curly-haired man dressed in a black hooded top and grey sweatpants being led away by running officers.

He was shown in video footage smirking at cameras as he was led away by cops.

The first victim of the UNC Charlotte shooting has been identified by family as Massachusetts man Drew Pescaro.

Pescaro is a sportswriter for the Niner Times, the institution's student-run newspaper.

The paper tweeted that he has undergone surgery, and is in a stable condition.

The student's Alpha Tau Omega fraternity said on Facebook: "ATO brother Drew Pescaro was shot and is currently hospitalised in a stable condition. We are keeping Drew... and the campus in our prayers."



'RUN, HIDE, FIGHT'

Panic erupted when the university sent an alert to its students reading: "Shots reported near kennedy. Run, Hide, Fight. Secure yourself immediately."

Local TV reports showed cops sprinting towards a building on the sprawling campus.

Another view showed terrified and confused students running away from the scene.

Students were among the victims, but officials would not say how many.

The Associated Press spoke with Monifa Drayton, an adjunct professor, who was walking onto campus when she heard the shots.

She said she directed students fleeing the scene to take cover inside a parking deck.

Drayton added: "I heard one final gunshot and I saw all the children running toward me.

"We started to get all the children pulled into the second floor of the parking deck and the rationale was if we're in the parking deck and there's a shooter and we don't know where he is, he won't have a clear shot."

She said: "My thought was, I've lived my life, I've had a really good life, so, these students deserve the same. And so, whatever I could do to help any child to safety, that's what I was going to do."

Antonio Rodriguez, 24, who was visiting campus for his friend's art show, told the AP that he heard, "just loud bangs. A couple loud bangs and then we just saw everyone run out of the building, like nervous, like a scared run like they were looking behind."

The shooter... didn't say anything. He just started shooting during our final presentations and we all ran out. Why UNC Charlotte? Why my classroom? What did we do? UNC Charlotte student Tristan Field

The campus - of more than 26,500 students and 3,000 faculty and staff - was due to host a rap concert at the school's football stadium last night before the attack unfolded.

Students were finishing classes on what was the final day of the academic year when the shooter struck.

Final exams were scheduled for next week.

On UNC Charlotte's Facebook page, messages of support and concern have been flowing in.

One student present during the shooting, Alexsander Pena, commented: "I was there as initial panic started to unfold

"I don't need your thoughts and prayers. I want you to push for stricter gun control. Because your thoughts and prayers did not help any of us tonight."



COPS TOLD STUDENTS 'STAY DOWN'

Sam Rice, a senior on UNC Charlotte's tennis team, said he was in the library studying for a final exam when he heard people shouting "shooter, shooter."

He said he heard police yelling for people to stay down and stay on the floor and was "waiting for someone to tell us everything was going to be OK."

Tristan Field, also on campus during the rampage, tweeted: "There was an active shooter in my room in the Kennedy building at UNC Charlotte, get to safety immediately.

"Why would anyone do this. We were just doing presentations and someone started shooting up the room.

"The shooter... didn't say anything. He just started shooting during our final presentations and we all ran out. I'm praying for everyone that got hit.

"Why here? Why today? Why UNC Charlotte? Why my classroom? What did we do?"

U.S. Representative Mark Walker, a Republican from North Carolina, said: "Absolutely heartbroken to learn of the two deaths at UNC-Charlotte.

"Details still unfolding, but prayers with those receiving medical care right now."

18 Drew Pescaro has been named as one of the four victims wounded during the gun rampage at UNC Charlotte Credit: Facebook

SHOOTER HAD 'NO INTEREST IN GUNS'

Terrell was a history major at the school before dropping out this semester, according to WCNC-TV.

The suspect's grandfather told reporters that Terrell and his dad had moved to Charlotte from the Dallas area about two years ago after his mother died.

Terrell taught himself French and Portuguese with the help of a language learning programme his grandfather bought him and was attending UNC-Charlotte, Rold said.

But Terrell never showed any interest in guns or other weapons and the news he may have been involved in a mass shooting was stunning, he added.

Rold said in a telephone interview Tuesday night: "You're describing someone foreign to me. This is not in his DNA."

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The shooting comes just four days after a shooting at a synagogue near San Diego, California, killed one woman and injured three others including an eight-year-old girl.

A vigil is planned on the campus today.

Message from UNC Charlotte chancellor Philip Dubois This is the saddest day in UNC Charlotte’s history. Earlier this evening, the unthinkable happened on our campus. At approximately 5:40 PM, an individual opened fire in a UNC Charlotte classroom, cutting short the lives of two members of our community and seriously injuring four others. Families of the deceased victims are being notified, and university staff are with those who are injured. The entire UNC Charlotte community shares the shock and grief of this senseless, devastating act. This was an attack on all of Niner Nation. I am proud of and grateful for the efforts of UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and other emergency officials. The suspected shooter is in custody and lives were saved thanks to their rapid response. Their work on campus will continue over the next several hours. Students and staff on campus should follow the instructions of law enforcement officials and the instructions issued in NinerAlerts. Everyone else should remain off campus until an all-clear message is issued. The days ahead will be some of the most challenging we have ever encountered. All I can say for certain is that we will get through them together. There is still much that we don’t know, and we will share information with you as soon as it is available. Among those unknowns is how we will navigate the remainder of the semester, including the final examination schedule and graduation. Examinations will be canceled through Sunday while we formulate a plan for the following week. Counseling and Psychological Services is currently providing counseling services to students who were on campus during the event. We intend to make counseling and spiritual support services available to the entire campus community beginning tomorrow morning.

Footage shows students evacuating from North Carolina university as police forces respond to reports of active shooter

18 Footage posted online showed police arresting a suspect, who has been named as student at the uni Credit: Twitter

18 Terrified students put their hands up as they flee from a mass shooting in North Carolina Credit: Twitter

18 An officer rushes to tell students to evacuate the campus during the lockdown Credit: AP:Associated Press

18 Police and ambulances line the roads around the Charlotte campus, where two people were killed and four were injured last night Credit: AFP or licensors

18 Stunned students leave the campus after the latest US college shooting Credit: AFP or licensors

18 Students leave the campus with their hands up as cops sweep the scene Credit: AFP or licensors

18 Off the campus, people gather, shocked by the campus shooting Credit: AP:Associated Press

18 Trystan Terrell, 22, has been named in local media as the suspect in the campus shooting Credit: CBS

18 Pictured as a youngster, Trystan Terrell holds a baby alligator Credit: Instagram

18 Above: Trystan Terrell is led away after being taken into custody

18 Tristan Field tweeted about the rampage, saying he didn't see the shooter, but was 'praying' for fellow pupils