A gunman wounded three Florida State University students, one critically, early yesterday when he opened fire in a library where hundreds of students were studying for exams, authorities said.

Officers confronted the attacker soon after 12.30am near the entrance to Florida State’s Strozier Library in the latest of a string of shootings on US campuses. Police said they ordered him to drop his weapon, then fatally shot him when he fired on them.

The shooter was Florida State University alumnus and attorney Myron May, an anonymous law enforcement officer told the Associated Press. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the shooter’s identification.

Late yesterday authorities had not released the names of the three students who were shot. One was treated at the scene for a graze wound. The other two were hospitalised, one critical and the other in good condition, said a spokeswoman at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare hospital. Police were investigating the shooter’s motive.

“Just like any tragedy, the ultimate question – why? – will never have an answer that satisfies those whose loved ones have been injured or killed,” said Florida Governor Rick Scott at a news conference.

Campus security was increased and classes were canceled yesterday. FSU president John Thrasher said efforts were under way to restore normalcy to the campus of about 40,000 students, known nationally for the strength of its football team and academics, with weekend events to continue as scheduled.

He said the training of police, who responded immediately, helped to “diffuse a very, very difficult situation that could have been probably worse.”

The shooting occurred just over a 1.6 kilometres from the Florida state capitol building. FSU student Jason Derfuss said in a Facebook post that a bullet hit his book bag as he was leaving the library.

“He was about five feet from me, but he hit my books,” he wrote, noting that he did not realise what had happened until three hours later. “I was almost killed tonight.”