Breaking reports of possible armed gunmen on campus at Stevenson University’s Owings Mills campus in Maryland, prompted a lockdown and massive police operation. Students sheltered in place while police searched the facility. The situation was prompted by a witness who called 911 saying they saw a person with a gun. Eventually it was discovered that the person in question was carrying a pellet gun, reports The Baltimore Sun.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Students Were Told by the College That There Was an ‘Active Shooter’
The university notified students via text message there is an “active shooter” on campus at 2:26 p.m. WBAL reports a witness telling them that there are two gunmen on campus. The Baltimore Sun reports that police have recovered a rifle in one of the school’s parking lots. WBAL adds that the gun was found in the back of a truck.
A school spokesman, John Buettner, told The Daily Record:
We sent out the email and text alert immediately after getting the report of someone on campus with a weapon or with a gun and we’re currently working with authorities. Police are here investigating and we are currently on lockdown until further notice. That’s all the details I have for you right now.
Jessica Anderson, a reporter with The Baltimore Sun, said that police are no longer treating the situation as an “active shooter” at about 3:52 p.m. WBAL reports that the weapon recovered was a pellet gun.
2. The School is Sealed Off
Cops are concentrating around a wooded area of the college, reports The Baltimore Sun. The college has been sealed off from the public, reports WBAL. One reporter says that the police activity is centered around the School of Business (shown above in a school promotional video).
#BCoPD o/s at Stevenson U for a report of armed subject. No confirmation of armed subject or shooting at this time.^EA
— BACO Public Safety (@BACOPoliceFire) March 31, 2014
3. There is One Report of Shots Fired
@BACOPoliceFire @cwellssun my daughter is a student there. She said shooter is in her building in the library. Shots fired
— John Neuberger (@FireNoob) March 31, 2014
One parent of a student at the college tweeted that her daughter said shots had been fired.
Shot of barricaded door at Stevenson university from student Raymond Contrucci on lockdown @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/x4KwV6BY60
— Scott Broom (@scottbroom) March 31, 2014
4. We Don’t Know if Anybody Has Been Hurt
Police and emergency crews on scene of active shooter scenario at Stevenson University pic.twitter.com/hC6HBpQQCa
— Melinda Roeder (@MelindaRoeder45) March 31, 2014
We have no reports of injuries.
5. The School Only Became Stevenson University in 2008
There are nearly 4,000 students enrolled at Stevenson University. The school was known as Villa Julie College until 2008 when it became Stevenson. There are two campuses, one in Stevenson and one in Owings Mills.