Networks Cover Breaking News of The Ohio State University Attack

By A.J. Katz 

Tragedy has struck the Buckeye State this morning, specifically the campus of The Ohio State University. On the day that classes had resumed after the Thanksgiving break, an active shooter was reported at Watts Hall, an engineering building on the Columbus campus just before 10 a.m. ET.

Ten people have been transported to local hospitals. Nine transported have been listed in stable condition. One person is in critical condition, per the Columbus Fire Department.

Fewer than 48 hours ago, the sentiment on campus was one of euphoria after the football team’s dramatic win over rival Michigan. Today, the mood on campus is anything but.

CBSN is intermittently simulcasting the coverage from its Columbus affiliate station WBNS. That affiliate is reporting that one suspect has been shot and killed. Josh Elliott is anchoring for CBSN.

NBC News is simulcasting its Columbus affiliate station WCMH. That affiliate is reporting that two people have been handcuffed and been put in cop cars, one African-American male, and one Caucasian male. 

Stephanie Ruhle broke the news on MSNBC of “an active shooter situation” at 10:22 a.m. ET. MSNBC analyst Jim Cavanagh joined the conversation not long after. Tamron Hall anchored the 11 a.m. hour for MSNBC.

Carol Costello broke the news on CNN Newsroom at 10:13 a.m. ET. CNN National correspondent Deborah Fayerick joined the conversation with her insights minutes after.  Kate Bolduan picked up the coverage at the 11 a.m. The network is showing live footage of the scene from WSYX, Columbus’ ABC affiliate, and WCMH, NBC’s Columbus affiliate.

Bill Hemmer broke the news on America’s Newsroom at 10:18 a.m. ET. The network initially picked up WBNS’ footage of the scene. Ironically, Hemmer is an Ohio native. Melissa Francis and Jon Scott took over coverage duties at 11 a.m. on Happening Now. They started reporting on multiple stories, in addition to the shooting, shortly after coming on air.

Michaela Pereira broke the news on her self-titled HLN program at 10:15 a.m. ET.

Not long after this tweet went out, CNN and MSNBC went from exclusively reporting on this story, to going back and forth between reporting on the shooting and other stories.

UPDATE: At 12:35 p.m. ET, CNN reported that 10 people were hospitalized after the attack, per Columbus Fire spokeswoman Rebecca Diehm. Nine are in stable condition, and one is in critical condition, she said.

UPDATE: Law enforcement officials tell NBC News’ Pete Williams the suspect named in the Ohio State University attack is 18-year-old Abdul Artan, an OSU student. Artan, who was shot and killed on the scene, was a Somali refugee who left his homeland with his family in 2007, lived in Pakistan and then came to the United States in 2014 as a legal permanent resident of the United States, officials said.

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