An armed college shooter has killed two US campus officers before fleeing and sparking a major manhunt before he was captured, said police.
Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 27, of Ashland, Virginia, opened fire on the two officers JJ Jefferson and John Painter after they responded to a call of a man acting suspiciously on the grounds of Memorial Hall, at Bridgewater College in Virginia, US, on Tuesday around 2pm.
After a brief discussion, Campbell opened fire and killed the two men, said Virginia State Police.
He ran off but he was spotted in the town of Bridgewater and, after wading through a river onto an island, he was picked up by police without further incident, reported wtvr.com.
Police said Campbell was found with a non-life threatening gunshot wound and he was taken to hospital - but it is unclear whether he was shot by Bridgewater officers or the wound was self-inflicted.
A police statement read: "Initial report came in that two officers had been shot and the armed suspect fled the scene. State and local law enforcement immediately responded and initiated a massive search operation for the suspect."
Campbell has now been charged with two felony counts of capital murder, one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony charge of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller told a news conference.
He is now being held at Rockingham County jail after being released from hospital.
College President David Bushman, in a message on the school's Facebook page, called the shootings an "unspeakable tragedy."
He wrote: "Campus Police Officer John Painter and Campus Safety Officer JJ Jefferson were shot and killed on campus while protecting us.
"These officers were close friends, known to many of us as the 'dynamic duo.' John was JJ's best man in his wedding this year. They were beloved by students, faculty, and staff. I hurt for their families and loved ones, as I know we all do."
There are reports that multiple firearms have been recovered which belonged to Campbell.
Officer Painter, 55, joined the department in May 2019 after retiring as chief of the Grottoes Police Department, while Officer Jefferson, 48, joined the department in 2018.
“Their loss is being deeply felt by our students, faculty, staff, and alumni across the globe. We keep their families in our hearts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” Bridgewater Police Chief Milton Franklin said in a Facebook post online.
