MELBOURNE, Fla. — Update: Melbourne police have identified the man shot and killed on campus as Alhaji Sow, 18, of Riverdale, GA.
Police confirmed Sow was a student at Florida Tech.
University officials said Student Life is arranging support services for students and staff who need them.
Officials also announced the cancellation of Saturday’s Test Fest event.
Original story:
A man is dead after a police officer and school security guard shot him on the Florida Tech campus late Friday night.
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Melbourne police say officers were called to the campus just before 11 p.m. over reports of a person chasing students with a knife.
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Investigators say school security also responded and discovered the man went into a building.
Both school security and Melbourne police followed the man into the building and confronted him. They say he was holding an “edged weapon.”
Investigators say the suspect lunged at school security and police officers. Both a Melbourne police officer and school security guard fired their weapons and shot the man.
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Friday just after 10 p.m., Florida Tech Security and the Melbourne Police Department responded to a security threat that began at Roberts Hall. The isolated incident resulted in an officer-related shooting where the suspect was killed. (1 of 2)
— Florida Tech (@FloridaTech) December 4, 2021
Officers then tried to perform life-saving techniques on the man, but he died at the scene. Melbourne police say the officer who fired his weapon is a five-year veteran and was injured during the situation. His injuries were not serious enough to go to the hospital.
School officials issued a “shelter-in-place” order around midnight and directed people to stay away from campus. Just after 3 a.m., school officials announced on Facebook the “shelter-in-place” order had been lifted but told people to stay away from Roberts and Campbell halls while police investigated.
Florida Tech leaders said on Facebook this shooting happened inside Roberts Hall but that has not been confirmed by Melbourne police.
Investigators have not identified the suspect at this time and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the investigation.
Melbourne Police has issued a news release regarding the incident that occurred on campus late last night. pic.twitter.com/f7AhQLqQLn
— Florida Tech (@FloridaTech) December 4, 2021
Melbourne police say this is an isolated incident and there is no longer a threat to campus.
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