1 of 2 | A history professor was shot and killed at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., on Monday. The gunman was not immediately captured, police said. Photo courtesy of Delta State University / Flickr
CLEVELAND, Miss., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Authorities announced that they are searching for a professor of geography as the prime suspect in the shooting death of Professor Eric A. Schmidt, who was gunned down Monday at Delta State University in Mississippi.
The shooting occurred at the college campus in Cleveland, Miss., Monday morning, officials said. The gunman remains at large. Schmidt was shot and killed in his office at the school. He was an assistant professor of American history, Delta State University's website says.
Authorities are searching for Professor Shannon Lamb as the prime suspect.
News media reported Monday that Lamb is also wanted in connection to another slaying Monday -- reported to involve his girlfriend in the nearby town of Gautier. The woman was reportedly shot at a home she shared with Lamb.
Police said Lamb, 45, called authorities to report his girlfriend's killing early Monday, before Schmidt's death.
Delta State University and all schools in the Cleveland school district were locked down immediately following Monday's shooting, officials said.
No other injuries were reported.
An SUV possibly driven by Lamb to the campus was later found by police, the Sun Herald reported. But the professor has not yet been located.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant pledged the "full support and assistance" of the Department of Public Safety, "including the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Highway Patrol," spokeswoman Nicole Webb said.
Delta State University is a public school with more than 4,000 students, about 30 percent of whom live on campus.
