Illinois shooting
© Masaki Sugimoto / Twitter
Gunfire has been reported at the Champaign campus of the University of Illinois, according to local media. Shots were fired in an alleyway and the shooter has left the area, police say.

Local authorities have confirmed that five people are among the victims of the overnight shooting, according to Champaign City official Twitter account. The city has called upon everyone to provide information that could help the investigation.

Several shots have been fired on Green Street between Third and Fourth streets, the Daily Illini reported, citing an Illini Alert sent out on Sunday morning. The alert recommended local residents to stay away from the area, notifying of more information to come.

Earlier in the day, Sergeant Rickey W. Bell of the University of Illinois Police Department did not confirm or deny any shootings, but added that the crime scene will be closed until at least 6am local time.

The shooting took place outside a local post office and about one block away from 'The Red Lion', a popular campus bar.

Initial reports in social media suggested up to nine people were shot, all now hospitalized.

Other conflicting reports claimed one person was killed.