RESIDENTS of a small college town have been told to lock their doors after a prominent educator was found shot to death last week.

The body of Honoree Fleming, a retired dean and professor at Vermont State University, was found on her favorite hiking trail about a mile from the campus on Thursday afternoon.

Police are still not sure if there’s a risk to the rest of people in Castleton, Vermont, a small town about 60 miles south of Burlington, The Associated Press reported.

“I recommend to the public to be vigilant, have some awareness,” said Dan Trudeau, the commander of the Vermont State Police’s criminal division.

“If you’re out, be with a friend.”

Investigators have been interviewing people who were on or near the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail on Thursday afternoon.

One witness saw an unidentified person walking north on the path.

Police described him as 5ft10 male with short red hair who was wearing a grey t-shirt and a black backpack at the time.

He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

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“We’ve never had anything like this. Not a thing,” lifelong Castleton resident Mary Waite told The Associated Press.

Valma Brown, who’s employed at the Castleton Village Store, told the outlet police have done a good job so far.

“They’re watching out for us so I feel pretty safe,” she said.

“Some people are really on edge and they don’t want to go anywhere. It’s just creepy how it happened in this small town.”

Vermont State students were supposed to resume classes on Monday after the end of their fall break, but ended up getting the day off before continuing their coursework on Tuesday.

The death spooked members of the school’s cross country team, who often train on the trail.

“I’m very concerned,” senior John Hendley, a member of the team, told The Associated Press.

“I love running on that rail trail like almost every day for practice and I’m not going to use it until further notice until things get resolved.”

Anyone with information about Fleming’s death is asked to call the Vermont State Police at (802) 773-9101.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously at this link.