US police evacuate University of Nevada campus after shooting (Reuters)

A shooting at the University of Nevada's main campus in Las Vegas on Wednesday evening killed at least three people before the incident ended in the death of the suspect, authorities said.

The Las Vegas Police Department (western United States) said in a statement on social media that 3 people, along with the shooter, died. Another person was shot and in critical condition.

Three hours after the incident, the university continued to urge people to take shelter, saying police were working to evacuate each building separately.

Classes were halted at nearby universities and schools, which were closed, while the Federal Aviation Administration announced flights to a nearby international airport were suspended.

Authorities have not identified the victims, and it is not yet clear whether the suspect was shot dead by police or committed suicide, as sometimes happens in similar shootings.

Vincent Perez, a professor at the university, told MSNBC he heard a lot of gunfire before hiding on campus near the tourist street crowded with hotels and casinos "La Vegas Strip".

Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Police said there was no longer any threat to the local community, but the main campus of the University of Nevada and its other campuses were closed today "for added caution."

Students and locals wait at the entrance of the University of Nevada after shooting inside (French)

He said police were still combing every building to make sure "there were no other victims or those involved".

Police said they responded to distress calls around midday (20:00 GMT), adding that they clashed with a suspect on campus, where gunfire was heard at least two locations.

Television footage, broadcast by local media, showed police vehicles moving as dozens of youths were evacuated.

In Washington, the White House said it was monitoring the situation in Las Vegas.

The incident is the latest in a country where gun acquisitions and shootings are widespread.

Las Vegas was the scene of one of the deadliest mass shootings ever in the country when a gunman opened fire during a music festival in 2017 and killed 60 people.

The United States has seen more than 600 mass shootings this year, according to the NGO Archive of Armed Violence, which defines mass shootings as one in which 4 or more people are injured or killed.

Source : Al Jazeera + Agencies