By msnbc.com staff and news services
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A man stabbed four people at a downtown Ohio office building and then was shot by an officer as he left the building, police officials said.
Columbus police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner said three of the victims were in critical condition at a downtown hospital, while the fourth received minor injuries.
The attack was reported at about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday at a building that houses offices of the Ohio attorney general and Miami-Jacobs Career College.
Weiner says the suspect confronted one victim inside the building near Miami-Jacobs Career College. He said other people inside intervened and took away one knife the suspect was using.
Weiner says those who intervened didn't realize suspect had a second knife.
A female officer responding to a report of multiple stabbings at the college saw victims when she arrived on the scene. She confronted the suspect who was armed with two knives, one in each hand, NBC station WCMH reported, citing a police source. The suspect went toward the officer in a violent manner so she fired multiple shots. The officer was not injured.
Weiner says police don't know what prompted the attack or whether there's any connection between the suspect and the wounded. A school spokesman told The Associated Press he doesn't know whether the victims were students or staff.
Read more on the Columbus, Ohio, stabbings on NBC4i.com
The suspect was transported to Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center in critical condition, WCMH reported.
Three of the victims were taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition, including a 53-year-old male who was reportedly stabbed in the face multiple times. One victim was transported to Mount Carmel West Medical Center with minor injuries.
The suspect, the officer and the victims have not been identified.
Officers continue to question witnesses, including the officer who fired her service weapon, WCMH reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook
