Shooting Leaves One Dead at Northern Arizona University

One student has died and three others are injured after a confrontation at Northern Arizona University early Friday morning.

18-year-old Steven Jones is in custody after opening fire around 1:20 AM, killing a young man identified as Colin Brough, according to NAU’s website. Some of the young men involved in the shooting are members of the university’s Delta Chi fraternity, though it was determined not to be a chapter-related incident. It is currently unclear what sparked the confrontation.

University president Rita Cheng called the shooting “a terrible tragedy”, adding,

“We are, of course, shocked and deeply saddened by the circumstances that bring us together this morning. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and our entire Lumberjack family“.

Arizona governor Doug Ducey pledged to support police investigations and the victims, noting,

“This heartbreaking incident will impact many of our fellow citizens, and I ask all Arizonans to keep them and the family of the individual lost in their thoughts and prayers as they cope with this tragedy“.

U.S. Senator John McCain also released a statement on the incident, saying,

“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. 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“.

The shooting comes just days after nine people were gunned down at Umpqua College in Oregon, prompting the president to consider executive action on gun control.

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