The University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus awoke to an emergency alert on Friday, after reports of shots fired in a school dorm led to the discovery of two people dead of apparent gunshots.

Officials have not yet identified the two dead individuals or mentioned a suspect, however Colorado Springs Police Department spokesperson Ira Cronin said it is believed to be an isolated incident, and there is no active threat in the community.

The CSPD posted on the social media site X Friday evening that the incident “does not appear to be a murder-suicide and both deaths are being investigated as homicides.”

Friday morning was foggy and chilly, just four days after a student had suddenly died of a medical emergency at the campus recreation center, when campus police received reports of shots fired in the Alpine Village student dorms shortly before 6 a.m.

A spokesperson with UCCS confirmed that the shooting occurred in Crestone House, an apartment building for upperclassmen and international students within the Alpine Village housing complex on the north side of campus.

Cronin said campus police gained access to the dorm at roughly 6:05 a.m. and discovered two people deceased, each with at least one gunshot wound.

Sgt. Ward with the city’s Stetson Hills police division said the department received a call to assist from UCCS at 6:11 a.m.

By 6:21 a.m. the entire campus was placed on lockdown. Campus community members received the following instructions, “Lockdown! Lock interior doors. Turn out the lights. Move away from sight. Do not open the door. Maintain silence. Evade/Defend.”

Fifty minutes later, a second alert message: “Lockdown UPDATE NO active shooter, please continue to shelter in place on campus until further notice. Campus closed today.”

Only those in Alpine Village were asked to stay where they were, while officers investigated the scene, and by 9:37 a.m., they too were allowed to leave.

A sudden stream of students could be seen leaving the Alpine Village dorms after the all-clear was given.

Samuel and Evan, two freshman roommates living in the Alpine Village who didn’t want their last names used, said they didn’t “hear anything” at the time of the shooting and discovered the news through an alert on their cellphones as they were waking up.

“It was really jarring, especially because we had just woken up,” Evan said.

“I obviously know that shootings do happen, but you never think it’s going to happen here (UCCS). It feels like such a disconnected reality,” Samuel said.

Just before 10:30 a.m., CSPD’s Metro Crime Lab had arrived on the scene.

According to Cronin, UCCS requested investigative assistance from the department, and CSPD’s homicide unit has assumed lead in the investigation.

Cronin confirmed both deaths are being investigated as a homicide.

“We are working this case diligently, and we are looking at every possibility. We will release more information when we can, and when it is helpful to the investigation,” Cronin said.

At an afternoon press conference city, county and police officials gave an update. District Attorney Michael Allen said that police would be “careful what they share” and that families were in the process of being notified.

UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet thanked the campus for heeding the morning shelter-in-place warning and highlighted counselling services.

“I can only imagine to our students and our staff how frightening that must have been and I thank you,” she said.

It was already a tragic week for UCCS, as Mia Brown, a senior in the nursing program, died suddenly of a medical emergency at the campus recreation center.

UCCS freshman Luke Ming said he is feeling the emotional weight of the three deaths on campus this week.

“It’s very sad and there’s a lot of grief. I do think a sense of community is important at a time like this, especially on such a small campus,” Ming said.

The campus will remain closed with all events and activities canceled for the weekend, according to the university’s social media. Monday, Feb. 19, is set to be a “Day of Healing” with classes cancelled and community events for students and staff to gather.

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Editor’s Note: Police have not mentioned the identity of a suspect in this shooting, or of any ongoing search for a suspect.

A previous version of this story incorrectly conflated information from an unrelated incident involving Colorado Springs police taking a suspect into custody.