Police: Suspected N. AZ University Shooter Is 18-Year-Old Freshman; Victims ID’d

One person was killed and three injured in a shooting early Friday at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz.

The suspected shooter was an 18-year-old freshman, Steven Jones, who eventually stopped firing and was arrested when police arrived at 1:22 a.m., university police Chief Greg Fowler said at a news conference Friday morning.

The shooting happened during a confrontation between a group of students.

“The shooter produced a handgun and shot four of our other students. One is deceased,” Fowler told reporters. Emergency services were on scene by 1:33 a.m., according to the university.

The dead student was identified in a statement from NAU as Colin Brough.

The three other victims were Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek and Nicholas Piring. They were treated at Flagstaff Medical Center.

Fowler did not confirm reports that the students were involved in the Delta Chi fraternity, but residents of the Mountain View Hall dormitory were asked to stay indoors. The dorm houses many students involved in Greek life.

Delta Chi’s national headquarters said in a statement that members were involved, but the dispute had no ties to the chapter. The organization does not know if the deceased is a member of their fraternity.

NAU President Rita Cheng called the incident “isolated and unprecedented.”

“We are sensitive to the tragedy and are asking faculty to be sensitive to the needs” of students, Cheng said. Counseling services would be made available.

Classes will continue as scheduled, Cheng said, but added “this is not going to be a normal day at NAU.”

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick’s (D) district includes Flagstaff. Here’s her statement:

Sen. John McCain (R), who has represented Arizona since 1987, offered his thoughts and prayers to those connected to the victims.

“My thoughts and prayers are with families of the person who was killed and the three others who were wounded in the horrific shooting on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff early this morning,” McCain said in a statement Friday morning. “I appreciate the efforts of all state and local law enforcement officials, first-responders and school administrators, and continue to pray for the recovery of the injured, as well as all those in the NAU community who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy.”

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also offered his prayers in a tweet early Friday.

Praying for @NAU and the victims of this morning’s shooting. All Arizonans have the #Flagstaff community in their hearts today.

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) October 9, 2015

Those affected can find out more information from NAU here:

Family Assistance Center has been set up in the ballroom of 1899 Bar & Grill, 307 W Dupont Ave. Long distance parents may call 928-523-0007.

— NAU (@NAU) October 9, 2015

NAU is a public four-year university in Flagstaff with an enrollment of just over 20,000 at the Flagstaff campus.