University of North Carolina Campus Shooting: Police Release Photo of ‘Armed and Dangerous’ Person

The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill has been locked down for more than two hours after reports of an "armed and dangerous" assailant, on campus Monday.

The lockdown order forced terrified students across the campus of 31,000 students to hide in bathrooms, classrooms and their dorms.

University officials have not confirmed details of what happened, but WRAL reports a shooting took place at around 1 p.m., and that officers are now hunting for the assailant.

UNC police have publicly shared a picture of a person they've identified as a person of interest.

Officials are now describing the person of interest as an "active assailant," rather than a "active shooter," WTVD reported.

The armed and dangerous person remains at large, officials said. Anyone who sees the person of interest is advised to keep their distance and call 911.

People currently on the campus are still being advised to stay inside and avoid windows. Some people were seen being evacuated from campus buildings, with their hands in the air, WRAL reports.

Outside of campus, public schools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District are currently in "secure mode," meaning that no one can enter or leave the schools, the district announced on Twitter. It is the first day of classes for the public school system.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper released a statement confirming that he had spoken to the Orange County Sheriff and the Department of Public Safety Secretary and "pledged all state resources needed to capture the shooter and protect the UNC campus."

Initial shelter-in-place orders were issued at around 1 p.m.