The shooter is still at large, but the suspect has been identified as Shannon Lamb.
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Shannon Lamb, a professor at Delta State University in Mississippi, allegedly shot dead fellow professor Dr Ethan Schmidt in his office on Monday, prompting a campus-wide lockdown.
Police say the college instructor who murdered his girlfriend and a Delta State University professor killed himself as they closed in on him. Schmidt was known by his friends and colleagues as a mentor who connected with both students and faculty.
During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Gautier Det. Moody said the projectiles that killed Prentiss are similar to those that killed Schmidt. Investigators in north Mississippi have also found no apparent connection.
Police have not yet determined a motive for the shooting.
Photo of Shannon Lamb, who is accues of killing his girlfriend and a Delta State University professor.
Gautier Police said that Dr Lamb, 45, called them around 10am on Monday and told them someone had been shot and killed.
“I am so very sorry”, it reads.
“He was brilliant in the regard that he took these complex historical ideas and explained them to me and helped me”, Anthony said.
Lamb was teaching two online courses this semester, University President William LaForge said.
Greenville police spotted Lamb late Monday night.
He obtained his doctorates degree in education from Delta State previous year and had worked there since 2009, according to his resume posted on the school’s website. Lamb ultimately pulled over and ran from the vehicle.
Bolivar County Coroner Nate Brown said a professor was shot, but provided no details.
Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Johnny Poulos said investigators were searching for a black 2011 Dodge Avenger that they believe Lamb was driving.
Lamb’s suicide brought to an end a tragic day in two communities, leaving those who knew the three involved stunned.
Ms Prentiss was divorced from her husband 15 years ago but they remained friends and had a daughter who is now 19.
O’Steen said he had not met Lamb but heard through his daughter Abigail that Lamb was interested in music and played the blues.
“He was really jittery, like there was something wrong with him”, Beavers said.
LaForge says he didn’t know of any conflict between Lamb and Schmidt but “obviously there was something in Mr. Lamb’s mind”. “She and her mother were absolutely best friends”.
A shooting was reported at a house in Gautier just after 10 a.m. Monday, the Gautier Police Department said.
Lamb then led police in a 12-hour auto chase, which ended when he told police officers “wasn’t going to jail” before turning the gun on himself. Anslover said that Schmidt beamed when talking about his children and teaching them lyrics to his favorite Johnny Cash or Sheryl Crow songs.
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“Just a happy couple”, he said.
