Multiple victims were reported in a shooting at a US university on Wednesday, with police saying a short time later the suspect was dead.

Students and members of the public had been told to avoid the area after reports of an active shooter on the Las Vegas campus of the University of Nevada.

Police said the incident occurred at about midday local time (8pm GMT) near Beam Hall, a campus building that houses the business school and other facilities.

“There appears to be multiple victims at this time. Please avoid the area,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Around half an hour later the department said the suspect had been located “and is deceased”.

The University of Nevada said officers were responding to a “confirmed active shooter” in one of its buildings.

“This is not a test,” the university said in a social media post. “Please shelter in place. This remains an active investigation.”

The university told its students to “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.”

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