Two students shot at university

Two students were shot at Delaware State University early today and the campus was locked down as police searched for a gunman, officials said. Classes were cancelled for the day.

A male student was hospitalised in stable condition, and a female student was hospitalised with injuries that are considered serious, according to a news release on the university's website.

"They could be potentially life-threatening," university spokesman Carlos Holmes said.

Police hoped to find out more information once the victims were able to talk.

"We haven't had a chance to talk to them yet, and that's probably a big reason why the suspect is still at large," Holmes told KYW-TV of Philadelphia.

The students were shot around 1am, the news release said.

Students were instructed to stay in their halls of residence until further notice, and non-essential university employees were told not to report to work. At the university's main entrance, swing-arm gates were down to prevent people from driving onto campus.

A historically black college founded in 1890 as the State College for Colored Students, Delaware State had about 3,600 students from 38 states and 31 countries in 2006.

The 400-acre 162-hectare campus was surrounded today by groups of recreational vehicles belonging to NASCAR fans in town for this weekend's races at the Dover Downs Speedway.