The University of Massachusetts Lowell was placed on lockdown for several hours following reports of a possible active shooter on campus.
An armed man was seen aiming an apparent rifle at college buildings as he walked through campus Wednesday in a video shot by terrified students from their window.
The university put students and staff under a shelter-in-place alert as police launched a manhunt for the suspect at around 3pm local time.
Lowell Police told the Daily Mail just before 5.30pm that the lockdown had been lifted, but the alleged gunman had not been located and their investigation remains ‘active and ongoing’.
Officers earlier said they were searching for a 5’5′ Asian man wearing a gray or white sweatshirt, black shorts and carrying a long weapon.
He was spotted near the Riverview Suites residence hall on south campus.
Massachusetts State Police and the FBI agents responded to the scene to support local authorities, and there was a heavy police presence on campus.
Student Nicholas Robinson, 20, told the Daily Mail that he had been locked down in a lecture hall on campus with a crowd of other students for around two hours.
The suspected gunman was seen aiming an apparent rifle at college buildings as the university put students and staff under a shelter-in-place alert
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is on lockdown following reports of a possible active shooter on campus
There is currently a heavy police presence on the campus as officers search for the suspect
‘We have been in Coburn Hall since the start… I wanna say since 3pm,’ Robinson said just after 5pm local time. ‘We’ve had no contact from police.’
Robinson also shared a video of police appearing to shepherd students into a bus just across the hall from the venue where he was locked in.
Lowell Mayor Daniel Rourke said that the city was ‘utilizing all available resources at this time’.
The public is urged to ‘remain vigilant’ and ‘avoid the area’ while the armed suspect remains at large.
There are no reports of shots fired on the campus, but police are still searching for the armed suspect.
‘We are aware of a video circulating of a person who appears to be armed walking in Lowell near the Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street,’ MSP said on X.
‘State and Local Police have responded to the area to further investigate. Anyone with relevant information should call 911.’
Congresswoman Lori Trahan said she is monitoring the situation.
‘I’m actively monitoring the alert of a potentially armed individual near UMass Lowell’s South Campus and in touch with local officials,’ she tweeted.
‘If you are in Lowell, please follow directions from Lowell Police Department (Official) and UMass Lowell.’
There are no reports of shots fired on the campus, but police are still searching for the suspect
State police and the FBI have responded to the scene to support local authorities
The university has issued a shelter-in-place alert to students and staff as police launch a manhunt for the suspect
A university spokesperson said in a statement to The Boston Globe: ‘Police from UMass Lowell and the city of Lowell were alerted this afternoon to reports of a male on South Campus carrying an object suspected of being a firearm.
‘A campus-wide shelter in place order has been issued as officers attempt to find this individual.’
The FBI is one scene and working with its law enforcement partners.
There are approximately 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at UMass Lowell, with more than 3,700 living in campus residence halls.
The incident comes as a wave of so-called ‘swatting’ hoaxes have targeted colleges and universities across the country as students return to campuses for fall classes.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.