Gunfire erupted inside a Virginia hookah lounge overnight Friday, leaving one dead and four wounded.
Police responded to the Melody Hookah Lounge in Blacksburg, not far from the Virginia Tech campus, just before midnight. When they arrived on the scene, officers discovered five people suffering gunshot wounds, including four who were taken to the hospital.
Their conditions were not known.
The fifth victim was pronounced dead on the scene, according to authorities.
The violence triggered a lockdown for Virginia Tech in the early hours of Saturday morning. The school was deemed secure around 3:20 a.m., according to university alerts.
University President Tim Sands in a statement posted online said one of the wounded is a student at the university.
“Events like this are difficult and unsettling to all of us. Please care for yourself and seek assistance if you need it. Campus resources are listed below” Sands said. “Our community is strong, and our strength is derived from our genuine care and concern for one another.”
Authorities on Saturday continued to search for the shooter.
“Multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting in the area and following up on leads,” police said in a news release.
Anyone with information about the shooting should contact Blacksburg police.
———
