A South Carolina college spent three hours under lockdown, after an officer was involved in a shooting that left a 20-year-old college student dead.

WYFF reports student Delvin Tyrell Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene at Spartanburg Methodist College. He was an attendee of nearby Limestone College in Gaffney. According to authorities, the incident began when a campus police officer responded to reports of a car break-in at the college.

The officer encountered Simmons and another man behind Sparrow Hall dormitory, said spokesman Thom Berry of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division.

According to the officer's account, one man fled on foot while Simmons got into a vehicle to escape. As he tried to drive off, he struck the officer and was shot.

"He did not comply with verbal commands, " said Kevin Bobo of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office to WYFF. "He tried to exit the parking lot in a hurry, struck one of the officers with his vehicle and the officer felt in fear and defended himself."

Authorities said the second man was taken under campus custody shortly after.

The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division says there is no dash or body cam footage of the incident.

Simmons' family has been notified and an investigation is pending.

SMC placed the school on temporary lockdown, asking students to contact relatives and tell them they were safe.

"SMC STUDENTS: please contact your parents. Our campus is being broadcast statewide by several news outlets so please call or text your parents and let them know you are safe. A parent's love for their child(ren) is like no other so a quick phone call or text to know you are safe will ease their mind," read a facebook post.

School officials later announced that classes would progress as normal, via Twitter.

SMC is a private, two-year college of about 800 enrolled students.