LOWELL, MASS. (WHDH) - Police responded to UMass Lowell for reports of a man on South Campus carrying an object, suspected of being firearm on Wednesday around 2:30 p.m.
A campus-wide shelter in place was in order as officers attempted to locate the man. Students and staff at the school barricaded themselves inside dorms and lecture halls.
The shelter in place was lifted around 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
“We were in a big lecture room, and someone came running in saying everyone to the back,” said Emily Beland, a student who sheltered in a lecture hall.
“The head of our building came into our room and told us to close all the windows, all the doors, we’re going into lockdown,” another student said.
University Police say there is no evidence of shots fired.
— UMass Lowell student speaks with Kimberly Bookman —
Swat teams also responded to the campus, Sky 7 captured officers and K-9’s combing through the area.
Massachusetts state police were aware of the situation and were investigating near the Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street.
“Personally my heart was beating out of my chest. I didn’t know what was going on. Some people were crying, some people were panicking,” said Harlem Meade-Draves, a freshman at UMass Lowell.
— Rob Way live from Lowell —
— Todd McGhee, law enforcement expert, calls into 7NEWS —
Lowell police are aware of a video posted on social media showing the man and investigated the area.
Officers say ultimately they could not find the man, or determine if he had a real gun.
The Campus Police Chief says he has no reason to believe there is a threat to public safety.
Even with the shelter-in-place lifted, students say they still want investigators to get to the bottom of what happened.
“It makes me feel really anxious that we have a lot of police on campus, and it’s really scary,” Angela Pereira said, a student who sheltered in class.
The incident remains under investigation.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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