A UCF police officer stands outside Tower 1. (WKMG-TV)
The University of Central Florida in Orlando canceled some classes on Monday after police responding to a 911 call found improvised explosive devices in a dorm room and a man dead in an apparent suicide.
A school official said a fire alarm went off in the Tower 1 residence hall at approximately 12:20 a.m. Monday. As firefighters were en route, police received a 911 call reporting a man with a gun. The building—which houses about 500 students—was evacuated. During a sweep of the building, police discovered the suspect dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a bag containing multiple devices.
Police found an assault weapon in the room as well as the handgun used in the apparent suicide, the school official said. It's unclear if the suspect was a student at the school.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are assisting campus police with the investigation, the official said. A bomb squad was called in to examine the IEDs.
Students were notified by a text message alert from the school at approximately 2 a.m., according to WKMG-TV.
UCF’s main campus will be closed for all classes until at least noon "out of an abundance of caution," the school said, as police continue their investigation at Tower 1, which remains closed. Classes at other campus locations will continue as scheduled.
"There is no threat to the campus community related to the suspicious death police are investigating in Tower 1," a message published on UCF's Facebook page read.
Staff members from UCF's Counseling and Psychological Services were headed to campus to assist students, the official added.
"Counselors are available in the Recreation and Wellness Center annex to talk with students who need assistance," an alert on the UCF website reads. "Students also can go to the Student Union. The UCF Arena will open at 7 to accommodate students evacuated from Tower 1. Counseling services will move into the Arena at that time."
UCF is the nation's second-largest university, according to its website, with more than 59,000 students enrolled at the school. About 11,000 live on campus.