Advertisement

Central Michigan University shooting suspect who allegedly killed parents now in custody

Click to play video: 'Two dead following shooting at Central Michigan University'
Two dead following shooting at Central Michigan University
WATCH ABOVE: Two dead following shooting at Central Michigan University, suspect still at large. – Mar 2, 2018

Central Michigan University said in a news release Friday morning that a campus shooting that left two dead appears to be a “domestic situation.”

Police and the university said early Saturday morning that the shooting suspect was in custody.

According to local media reports and a tweet from Central Michigan University, the suspect was taken into custody sometime after midnight, though the exact time of the arrest isn’t known.

The suspect is James Eric Davis Jr. Multiple reports, as well as a tweet from Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, indicate Davis Jr. shot his parents when they arrived to pick him up for spring break.

Story continues below advertisement

The school and police department later confirmed that the two people killed were the parents of the student suspect, Eric Davis, Sr., and Diva Jeneen Davis who were both 47 years old.

Illinois authorities have confirmed that one of the two victims of the shooting was a police officer. James Davis Sr. was a part-time police officer in Bellwood.

There were no additional injuries.

Davis Jr. is described as a black male, about 19 years old, and five-foot-10 inches tall.

An undated photo provided by Central Michigan University shows James Eric Davis Jr. Central Michigan University via AP

The university police’s lieutenant, Larry Klaus, said at a news conference that Davis had contact with college police on Thursday night, and was taken to a local hospital after an apparent overdose.

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH: Local reporter goes live from Central Michigan University campus following shooting

Click to play video: 'Local reporter goes live from Central Michigan University campus following shooting'
Local reporter goes live from Central Michigan University campus following shooting

But, a hospital spokeswoman told Reuters in an email that there is no record of Davis being a patient.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Police in patrol cars and helicopters searched for the gunman throughout most of Friday around an area of apartments just north of the campus, according to video posted online by reporters on the scene.

In the surrounding community, students and staff in the Mount Pleasant school district were told not to leave nine buildings. Visitors also weren’t being allowed to enter.

WATCH: Police discuss suspect in Central Michigan University shooting, say incident was ‘domestic’ in nature

Click to play video: 'Police discuss suspect in Central Michigan University shooting, say incident was ‘domestic’ in nature'
Police discuss suspect in Central Michigan University shooting, say incident was ‘domestic’ in nature

The shooting was first reported by the school on Friday morning, with Michigan State Police on scene.

Story continues below advertisement

Students and staff were told on Facebook and Twitter to take shelter, as the shooter was considered “armed and dangerous.”

Many of the students were preparing to leave campus Friday ahead of spring break. Parents who were picking up their children from school were told to stay away from the school’s grounds amid the threat.

Central Michigan University has about 23,000 students in Mount Pleasant, which is about 200 kilometres northwest of Detroit.

— With files from The Associated Press and Jessica Vomiero

Sponsored content

AdChoices