Shooting reported in University of Utah, one killed

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, the state of Utah, the United States. [File photo: VCG]

At least one person was killed in a shooting incident Monday night near University of Utah in the western United States, police said.

The victim was killed in a vehicle and multiple gunshots were heard, according to Salt Lake City Police Department.

Authorities have been searching for a 24-year-old male suspect identified as Austin Boutain who was "considered armed and dangerous," the department posted on its twitter account.

The university, located in Salt Lake City, issued an alert to students at about 8:30 p.m. (0230 GMT Tuesday), saying "Shots fired. Red Butte Canyon. Shelter in Place."

About half an hour later, the university tweeted: "CAMPUS ALERT: Suspect male, white adult. Black clothing, beanie with cross, tear-drop tatoo on face."

The east part of the campus was still in an active shooting situation and remained on lockdown three hours after the initial alert.

Facebook Live from the scene showed heavy police presence and armed Special Weapons And Tactics teams searching buildings along a street.

According to information gathered from several social media platforms, Boutain has criminal records.