The University of Virginia has issued a shelter in place order amid a frantic search for a suspected gang member who was spotted on their grounds.
Staff and students are being urged to avoid Nyheem Hill, who is described as a 6’1, 170lb, black man wearing a gray hoodie.
Hill was last seen on foot near the Alderman Road dorms, according to UVA police.
He is wanted after he allegedly fled the scene after hitting a state trooper’s vehicle following a traffic stop, the Daily Progress reports.
Police said he has ‘a known criminal history and gang affiliation’ and have requested the public avoid the area.
Hill is being hunted by state police, with help from campus officers and Charlottesville Police Department.
The authorities released a surveillance footage image amid the search which they said shows Hill.
‘The suspect has no known affiliation with the UVA,’ campus police added. All classes have been cancelled until further notice.
The University of Virginia has issued a shelter in place order after wanted man Nyeem Hill was spotted on their grounds. Campus police say he is pictured in this image
The shelter in place order was issued by UVA Department of Safety and Security at 9.35am on Tuesday
The shelter in place order was issued by UVA Department of Safety and Security at 9.35am on Tuesday.
The department confirmed that as yet there have been no injuries or shots fired.
At 10.01am it repeated the alert and stressed that the UVA university and medical center should continue to shelter in place.
Police continued to search the grounds and surrounding area into the afternoon.
It has since emerged that Hill was pulled over in a Chevrolet Impala for an expired inspection ticket.
‘The suspect took the Ivy Road exit, slowed, and fled from the vehicle while it was still in drive,’ state police said in a statement obtained by the Daily Progress.
‘The Impala then struck a State Police vehicle and at least one other vehicle. There were no injuries.’
Hill has previous convictions for weapons offences after he brought guns to a playground.
He was sentenced to five years in jail, which was reduced down to 14 months.
UVA is home to almost 22,000 students and around 30,000 members of staff.