The University of Massachusetts Lowell campus was placed under lockdown for several hours Wednesday, Sept. 3, as police attempted to locate a man seen on video holding what appeared to be a firearm.
“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,” according to the University’s website, adding that there was “no report of a shooting.”
Text messages sent through a school emergency system earlier this afternoon described the person police were looking for as a “5’5 Asian male wearing a gray or white sweatshirt and black shorts carrying a long weapon,” according to WCVB5.
State and local police responded to the campus, confirming that they were “aware of a video circulating of a person who appears to be armed walking in Lowell near the Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street” and conducting an extensive search of the area.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted several hours later, “after law enforcement partners determined that the suspect was no longer in the vicinity,” according to the University.
Trooper Brandon Doherty of the Massachusetts State Police told PEOPLE in a statement that they will continue to gather information for the ongoing investigation.
“There are no reports of any shots fired or injuries,” Doherty informed the crowd. “As a precaution, troopers and officers will be stationed throughout the city… If you have any information, photos, or video of the suspect, please contact the Lowell Police Department.
FBI Boston has also confirmed its involvement in the ongoing investigation in a post on X, stating that the agency continues to “provide assistance to our law enforcement partners,” while urging the public to “remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.”
