Murder suspect of professor shot to death on Mississippi college campus dead

Professor Ethan Schmidt was shot to death in his office early Monday morning at a Delta State University, a small university in Mississippi, according to police.

The sole suspect in his murder, Shannon Lamb, was pronounced dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday night, according to The Associated Press.

Delta State University has confirmed one fatality. Campus remains under lockdown. Please stay inside and away from windows.

— Delta State (@DeltaState) September 14, 2015

A Bolivar County, Mississippi official said Ethan Schmidt, who worked in the history department, was identified as the shooting victim.

No students were involved in the shooting and classes were cancelled, university officials said.

Lamb was a 45-year-old university employee who was also suspected in the shooting death of 41-year-old Amy Prentiss in the south Mississippi city of Gautier, about 300 miles away.

Police said they spoke on the phone with Lamb Monday night and he said he’s “not going to jail,” according to The Associated Press.

Around 11:30 p.m. local time, Greenville police were following Lamb when he pulled over, jumped out of his car, and ran.

Delta State University police chief Lynn Buford said police heard a single gunshot and found him with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. They took Lamb to the hospital in Greenville where Buford says he was pronounced dead.

Don Allan Mitchell, an English professor, said many staff members were prepared to handle a situation like this and made sure everyone was safe.

“Fortunately for us, our public safety officers and university officials have trained many of us for active shooter situations,” he wrote in a Facebook message to The Associated Press. “Many students are locked-down in classrooms, and professors and staff members are telling them the protocol. Plus, we are all texting and Facebooking each other to make sure we are safe.”

All students are safe. Grieving our loss and thankful for every comment, gesture of support and prayer. #DSUFamily #StatesmenStrong

— Delta State (@DeltaState) September 14, 2015

About 3,500 students attend Delta State, a public four-year institution in Cleveland, Mississippi.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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