Shooting at Kentucky university leaves 1 dead and 1 injured, governor says: ‘Let’s pray for all those affected’

Police in Frankfort, the state's capital, said the Kentucky State University campus was put into lockdown on Tuesday after violence broke out

One student was killed and another was left critically wounded in a shooting at Kentucky State University, authorities have said.

Police in Frankfort, the state's capital, said the campus was put into lockdown on Tuesday, with Governor Andy Beshear later confirming the incident.

The shooting unfolded around 3:35 p.m. at Young Hall, a dorm on the campus’s south side, Frankfort Assistant Chief of Police Scott Tracy told WDRB.

Law enforcement agencies remain on the scene and have secured the campus, though a suspect has now been taken into custody.

Information about a possible motive for the shooting were not immediately available though police confirmed later that the suspect was not a student.

The injured student was taken to hospital in critical condition but is now stable, authorities said.

At least one person has been killed and another left critically wounded in a shooting at Kentucky State University, authorities have said. A suspect has been taken into custody (AP)

However, preliminary information indicated that the shooting stemmed from a personal dispute rather than a random act of violence, ABC reported, citing an official briefed on the situation.

In a video address Tuesday evening, Beshear also said the incident did not appear to be random and was “not a mass shooting.”

“The shooting that took place today at Kentucky State University appears to be an isolated incident - not a mass shooting. The suspect has been arrested, and there is no ongoing threat. Two individuals were critically injured, and I am sad to share that one has now passed away,” he said.

And he added: “Violence has no place in our commonwealth or country. Let's please pray for the families affected and for our KSU students. Let’s also pray for a world where these things don’t happen.

“Thank you to our brave law enforcement who acted quickly to protect our people.”

The Frankfort Police Department said it responded to calls "regarding an active aggressor."

Kentucky State is a public historically Black university with about 2,200 students. Lawmakers authorized the school’s creation in 1886 (Google Maps)

Authorities are expected to provide further information on the incident at a press conference later Tuesday evening.

Kentucky State University is a public historically Black university with about 2,200 students. Lawmakers authorized the school’s creation in 1886.

The incident on Tuesday comes after two other historically Black universities were targeted earlier, both taking place on homecoming weekends in October.

A shooting near the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., injured five people, though no students, and a day later, at least one person was killed and six more were injured at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.