The estranged husband of a Penn State University cafeteria worker fatally shot his ex-wife in a campus parking lot before taking his own life Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The Penn State Beaver campus in Monaca was placed on lockdown after the man shot his ex near her car just before 4 p.m., state police Lt. Eric Hermick told reporters.The gunman then turned the gun on himself.
After hearing numerous shots and frantic screaming, an officer rushed over to the parking lot, where he found the food services worker and her former husband dead on the ground, Hermick said.
Campus officials urged students to stay away from the student union building and the food services area after reports that the man had fired as many as 15 shots.
A motive for the shooting was not immediately known.
Penn State University President Eric Barron offered condolensces and noted that counseling is available for students “struggling to cope with this tragedy.”
“Our entire Penn State community is profoundly saddened by the tragedy at the Beaver campus,” Barron said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies go to the victim’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”
The branch campus — which is located 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh — has about 700 undergraduate students.
Wednesday’s shooting comes just one day before the five year anniversary of the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting, which left 26 people dead.
With News Wire Services
