Northern Arizona University student kills one, injures three with handgun: police
One person was killed and three were injured in a shooting outside a dormitory early Friday morning at Northern Arizona University in the city of Flagstaff.
The gunman is now in custody and the surviving victims are being treated at Flagstaff Medical Center, the school said.
“We are asking the faculty to be sensitive to the needs of our students and their families,” Northern State University President Rita Cheng said during a news conference at 6 a.m. local time. “This is not going to be a normal day at NAU. Our hearts are heavy.”
The school identified the student who died as Colin Brough and the injured victims as Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek and Nicholas Piring.
Northern Arizona University Police Chief Gregory T. Fowler identified the gunman as 18-year-old student Steven Jones and said he used a handgun.
Jones has been charged with one count of first degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault. His first appearance in front of a magistrate is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
The suspect allegedly fired his gun at 1:20 a.m. during a confrontation that spiraled out of control outside Mountain View Hall on the northeast side of the campus.
Jones had stopped shooting the firearm by the time campus police arrived and did not attempt to flee the scene, according to Fowler. Jones was taken into custody without further incident.
“A great many people are involved and need to be interviewed, and a lot of things need to be accomplished before we can release a great many details,” Fowler said.
All of the victims are male, he said.
The Northern Arizona University Police Department, the Flagstaff Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies are at the school investigating the incident.
“We can’t release a lot of additional details at this time,” Fowler said.
Support services are available for students, faculty and staff at the campus’ Health and Learning Center. The university also set up a family assistance center in the ballroom of the 1899 Bar & Grill.
Parents may call (928) 523-0007 for additional information.
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