A report of an armed individual prompted students at Emory University’s Oxford College campus to shelter in place Friday.
The incident disrupted campus life for more than an hour before police issued an “all clear” at 3:47 p.m.
The university police department issued a brief statement an hour and a half later, saying it and local law enforcement agencies “investigated a report of an individual with a handgun on campus.”
“After completing this investigation and finding no threat to our community, we issued an all clear. Emory University is now resuming all normal campus operations,” said the statement from deputy chief Burt Buchtinec.
“I understand that many at Emory — students, faculty, staff, parents and families — were deeply shaken and concerned by this experience. I want you to know that the actions of the Emory Police Department were pursued as a cautionary measure. We responded quickly to keep everyone as safe as possible,” said Buchtinec’s statement.
An Emory spokeswoman did not answer questions about if police are still searching for an armed person, saying the statement was all the information she had available.
The university issued an initial warning on Twitter at 2:21 p.m. Friday, stating that there was a “police emergency” and instructing people to avoid the area.
Subsequent updates said the emergency was at Murdy Hall, one of four residential housing buildings on the Oxford campus, and told people to shelter in place and avoid the area.
Newton County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Caitlin Jett said the initial police call stated that “an individual entered the dorm with a weapon.” Jett referred comment to the school.
The Oxford College campus is about 37 miles southeast of the main campus in Atlanta. The campus enrolled just over 1,000 students as of last fall.
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