Jeff State Police Shoot Man Carrying Machete On Campus

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A Jefferson State Community College police officer shot a person wielding a machete on the school's Carson Road campus Wednesday morning. The person has been transported to UAB hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A witness told Alabama Media Group that he was a passenger on a MAX bus when the suspect got on carrying the machete. He said he spoke with the man, "but the man was just talking to himself."

The State Bureau of Investigation said the bus driver alerted police about the man before the bus arrived at Jeff State.

The witness said when the bus stopped in the parking lot just past the main entrance of the campus, the suspect exited the bus, still carrying the machete. Within minutes, the witness said, gunfire erupted and the suspect fell to the ground.

The school posted on social media just before 9 a.m. Wednesday that danger had been identified at the school and that students should shelter in place. Just before 10 a.m., the school posted that the campus was clear, but to avoid the bus stop area.

"We are grateful to the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County for their prompt assistance," said Jeff State spokesman David Bobo. "A Jefferson State police officer has been treated and released from a local hospital for minor injuries."

Bobo said the SBI is now handling the investigation of this incident. "Jefferson State will respect the integrity of the Bureau’s investigation and fully cooperate in every way," Bobo said. "Additional details of the incident will be released at the appropriate time by SBI."