Three people are dead and one is in critical condition after what appears to be an attempted armed robbery gone wrong in Edmonton, Alberta.

CTV Edmonton's Veronica Jubenville reported Friday that shots were fired just after midnight at the University of Alberta's Hub Mall.

"Police have told us three people were killed. We know one body was found outside, we believe two others were found inside the Hub Mall. One person is in hospital with critical injuries and that's all we know at this time," Jubenville told CTV's Canada AM.

According to some reports, the three shooting victims were employees of an armoured vehicle security company. Police have not confirmed that detail.

No students appear to have been involved in the violence at the Hub Mall, which contains shops and student residences.

Jubenville said one student was on the second floor of the building studying at about midnight when he heard a loud commotion.

"He heard what he thought were firecrackers, obviously they were gunshots ringing out. There was a loud shouting, a commotion, he said he heard someone screaming and went to check out all the commotion and said 30-40 tactical officers rushed into the building and told him to leave the area," Jubenville said.

Jubenville said it appears police have so far made no arrests in the shooting, though there are reports that the armoured vehicle has been found near the company that owns it.

Video will play after advertisement