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The suspect was seen carrying a machete onto the college campus and was shot by campus police before he could hurt anyone.
Jefferson State resumed normal operations and summer classes are ongoing.
A man carrying a machete Wednesday morning at Jefferson State Community College was shot by a campus police officer.
The shooting happened at the Carson Road campus in Birmingham, Alabama, reports Alabama.com. The suspect was seen on a bus carrying the machete around 9 a.m and exited the bus in a campus parking lot.
Eyewitness Dontavious Lewis said gunfire erupted almost immediately after the bus stopped and the suspect collapsed in the parking lot.
“I guess he was trying to kill folks at the school,” Lewis said. “He had the machete in his hand.”
“Danger identified at the Jefferson Campus! Seek immediate shelter in classrooms or offices! Remain inside until all clear is given,” the college posted on its Facebook page.
The wounded suspect was treated by medics on the scene and taken to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center with potentially life-threatening injuries.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has taken over the investigation.
SBI Lieutenant Jon Riley said the bus driver had notified campus police of the passenger before arriving. Campus Officer Ray Channel said officers were waiting in the parking lot as the bus pulled up and confronted the armed suspect as soon as he exited the bus.
Birmingham police and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene to assist campus police.
One officer sustained minor injuries during the confrontation with the suspect and was taken to the hospital.
Channel confirmed that the threat was over quickly, but officers remained on the campus for the remainder of the day.
“It is unusual, but we do train for these things,” Channel said. “We should always be on alert because it is happening so much around the country.”
Authorities said the suspect is not believed to have any connection to the school.
Jefferson State resumed normal operations and summer classes are ongoing, a statement from the college said.
About the Author
Katie Malafronte, Web Editor
Katie Malafronte is Campus Safety's Web Editor. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Writing & Rhetoric. Katie has been CS's Web Editor since 2018.
