The University of Massachusetts Lowell is on lockdown following reports of a possible active shooter on campus.
A video taken by frightened students from their window on Wednesday showed a man with what appeared to be a rifle, aiming at college buildings while walking through the campus.
The university has put students and staff under a shelter-in-place alert as police launched a manhunt for the suspect at around 3pm local time.
Officers are 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.
The campus is currently surrounded by a large police presence. Both Massachusetts State Police and FBI agents are on the scene to assist local authorities.
Nicholas Robinson, a 20-year-old student, informed the Daily Mail that he had been in lockdown with numerous other students in a lecture hall for approximately two hours.
‘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.’
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
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 added that the city is ‘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.
The Massachusetts State Police shared on platform X: ‘We are aware of a circulating video showing someone who seems to be armed near Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street in Lowell.’
‘State and Local Police have responded to the area to further investigate. Anyone with relevant information should call 911.’
Lowell Police told the Daily Mail that the search for the man was still ‘ongoing’ just before 5pm on Wednesday.
‘Police are searching for a man who was spotted near UMass Lowell with what appeared to be a firearm,’ a spokesperson for the department said.
‘No shots have been fired and no threats were made. The search is being conducted out of an abundance of caution. The search is ongoing.’
Congresswoman Lori Trahan said she is monitoring the situation.
‘I’m closely monitoring the situation of a possible armed person near UMass Lowell’s South Campus and have been in contact 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
The university’s spokesperson told The Boston Globe: ‘UMass Lowell and city police were informed this afternoon about reports of a male on South Campus carrying an object believed to be 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.
