Police at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville have issued an alert regarding a potential active shooter on campus today. This alert was prompted by reports of a gun at Shannon Library; however, after investigation, no evidence of an attack was found. Consequently, normal campus activities are set to resume, and an inquiry into the false report is underway.
The University of Virginia has given the “all clear” following earlier concerns of a shooter on campus. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the misleading report as no signs of an attack or threat were uncovered by the police.
Assistance from the Charlottesville police and fire departments is being provided to campus police as they conduct their investigation, according to Kyle Ervin, a spokesperson for the city of Charlottesville.
The safety protocol known as the “run-hide-fight” or “run-hide-tell” method is a guideline aimed at aiding individuals in surviving active shooter or violent intruder situations in the United States. Originating from the City of Houston in the early 2010s, this protocol has received endorsements from federal agencies such as the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.
UVA has confirmed the presence of police at Shannon Library, continuing their investigation into the situation. This comes after an emergency alert was disseminated, cautioning students and staff about an “active attacker” with a gun reported near the library.
Though authorities have not found any evidence of an active attacker, they advise students and staff to adhere to safety protocols. The latest update was released at 3:41 pm local time.
The warning issued by the UVA’s Department of Safety and Security around 3:05 pm local time read: “UVA Emergency Alert: ACTIVE ATTACKER with a gun reported in area of Shannon Library 160 McCormick Road. RUN HIDE FIGHT.”
Brian Coy, a university spokesperson, informed USA TODAY that there is currently no evidence of an attack, and investigations are ongoing.
Police have reported an ‘active attacker’ situation at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville after a gun was sighted near Shannon Library.