A mass shooting in the United States allegedly carried out by the son of a local deputy sheriff with her old service weapon left two people dead at a university in Florida, police said.
At least five people were hospitalised when the gunman — identified as Phoenix Ikner — rampaged through Florida State University (FSU), shooting at students, before he was shot and injured by local law enforcement.
The campus in the state capital of Tallahassee was locked down as gunshots were heard. Students and faculty were told to shelter in place as police responded. More than 42,000 students attend classes at the main campus.
Leon County sheriff Walt McNeil told reporters Ikner, 20, was the son of an "exceptional" 18-year member of his staff.
"Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene," he said.
The Florida State University campus in the state capital of Tallahassee was locked down as gunshots were heard. Source: AAP / Don Hayes/EPA
FSU Police chief Jason Trumbower said at a press conference the two people who were killed were not students.
The shooting started at about 1.50am AEST on Friday.
Responding police officers shot the gunman when he failed to obey orders to surrender and took him into custody, authorities said.
At least five people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, Trumbower said. It is unclear if this number included the gunman.
A 'tragic day'
FSU president Richard McCullough said the university was working to support those affected by the shooting.
"This is a tragic day for Florida State University," he said.
"We're absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today."
Mass shootings on US school campuses have become recurring tragedies in recent years.
The incident was the second shooting on the FSU campus in 11 years. In 2014, a graduate opened fire early at the school's main library, wounding two students and an employee as hundreds were studying for exams.
US President Donald Trump called the shooting "a shame, a horrible thing," but insisted Americans should retain unfettered access to guns.
"I’m a big advocate of the second amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it," he said, referring to the part of the US constitution gun advocates say protects firearm ownership.
"These things are terrible, but the gun doesn't do the shooting — the people do."
