Central Michigan University shooting: 2 dead, gunman missing

UPDATE: Central Michigan University: Fatal shooting suspect in custody

Two people were killed in a fourth-floor room of a Central Michigan University residence hall early Friday morning, police and the university said.

The two who were killed were not students, the university said.

Sources told the Free Press that the victims are believed to be the shooter's parents. The situation is believed to have started from a domestic dispute.

Related:

The suspect is still at large. He is considered armed and dangerous. The entire CMU campus and most of Mount Pleasant, where the university is located, is locked down while police from local, state and federal agencies search the area.

The person of interest is James Eric Davis, Jr. He is a black male, approximately 19 years of age, 5-feet-10 and 135 pounds.

Police said they had contact with him late Thursday night and took him to a local hospital, where he was turned over to the medical staff for what police believe may have been some sort of drug-related issue.

[Photos from CMU: Tap here to see new images as the university remains on lockdown.]

Davis was released from the hospital this morning, shortly before the shooting.

Police said cameras located in the common area and exits of the dorm captured Davis leaving the dorm, headed north and running along train tracks. Police said they had recovered pieces of clothing along the tracks.

Friday is the last day before spring break. Many students had already left campus, but others were planning to leave today.

(Continue reading below)

CMU is asking anyone who is planning to come to campus today to pick up students for spring break to stay off campus until further notice. University officials are asking them to go to the Comfort Inn, 2424 S. Mission St., where university staff will be on site to support the families.

CMU is a university of about 25,000 students, located in mid-Michigan. It is about an hour north of Lansing, the state capital and about 2 1/2 hours northwest of Detroit.

Gov. Rick Snyder also tweeted in response to the incident.

Students have taken to posting updates on social media.

Contact Higher Education reporter David Jesse at Djesse@freepress.com, follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj. Contact reporter Aleanna Siacon at ASiacon@freepress.com, follow her on Twitter: @AleannaSiacon. Contact reporter Brandon Patterson at BPatterson2@freepress.com, follow him on Twitter: @BPattersonLive.