Suspect used car, butcher knife in attack at Ohio State University; 9 injured



COLUMBUS, Ohio (KABC) —

Authorities shot and killed a suspect who they say injured nine people after he struck the group with his car and then attacked them with a butcher knife at Ohio State University.

University officials said the person killed Monday morning was the only suspect in the case. They said there were rumors that there were multiple suspects involved in the incident, but that was later determined to be incorrect.

Federal officials identified the suspect as Abdul Razak Ali Artan, who they said was born in Somalia and living in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident. It was unclear when Artan came to the U.S.

Authorities said Artan drove a car over a curb and into a group of people gathered on a street corner on the northern side of the campus. He then quickly jumped out of the vehicle and stabbed some of those victims with a butcher knife, police stated.

Nine people were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials.

The university stated victim injuries included “stab wounds, injury by motor vehicle and other injuries that are being evaluated.” During a press conference, a doctor said two people had completed surgery for “orthopedic issues.”

The active shooter alert was sent out on social media, telling people near Watts Hall to “run hide fight” just before 10 a.m. local time.

The school urged people in the area to shelter in place and avoid the “north campus area.” Watts Hall is the materials science and engineering building at the campus.

After the active shooter alert was issued several students and staff barricaded themselves in classrooms.

Kendrick Price, an academic adviser at the university, told ABC News he ran to his second-story office window after hearing screams. Price said he saw a person running toward police, who was then shot multiple times.

Jacob Bowers, a student at the university, said he saw a man with a knife “chasing people around trying to attack them.”

“Luckily there were so many people he couldn’t focus on one target,” Bowers said. “I didn’t see anyone get stabbed but I saw the police officer take down the stabber. He saved lives today.”

Bowers added that the apparent attacker did not say anything, “which was almost scarier.”

Officials lifted the shelter in place order about an hour and a half after the initial alert was sent out and announced all classes on campus were canceled for the remainder of the day.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene.

“Our top priority remains the safety and security of our campus community,” the university said in part of a written statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and their families.”

PHOTOS: Suspect dead, 8 injured at Ohio State University

Photos posted on social media showed a very large police presence at the campus which has nearly 60,000 students.

Before the situation unfolded, authorities said Watts Hall had a gas leak, but it was unclear if that had any connection to the attack.

Authorities said it was too early in the investigation to determine if the attack was planned or linked to terrorism, but they were working to figure out a motive.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.

(Copyright ©2016 KABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.)

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