A lockdown was instated at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on Monday (US time) as law enforcement authorities kicked off an investigation in connection with reports of an armed attacker at the premises.
According to an emergency alert from the university campus police, the gunman was reported near Shannon Library around 3 pm ET on November 3. “UVA Emergency Alert: ACTIVE ATTACKER with a gun reported in area of Shannon Library 160 McCormick Road. RUN HIDE FIGHT,” read the UVA Police Division’s warning on X.
Shortly after the concerning development came to light, authorities quickly rebuffed the claims of the said incident, noting they hadn’t found any “evidence of attack of threat on UVA Grounds or nearby.” The subsequent announcement further foregrounded that the investigation into the “false report” was ongoing, but they had cleared the university grounds for resumption of normal operations.
University spokesman Brian Coy also confirmed to USA Today, “No evidence at this time of an attack, investigation is ongoing.”
As per a CBS 19 News report, campus residents were advised to lock their doors and seek safe shelter after the initial reports of a gunman. No one was allowed to enter the campus without authorised credentials as an “access control only” restriction was instated in academic buildings.
This is a developing story.