Shelter-in-place order lifted at UMass Lowell after report of armed man on campus

LOWELL, Mass. — The shelter-in-place order at UMass Lowell’s campus following a report of a person with a gun was lifted after police searched the campus for several hours.

Police received a report from a student of an individual with a gun behind a dorm shortly before 2:30 p.m.

Officers were also made aware of a viral video circulating and Lowell police officers began to search the campus alongside several other agencies, including Massachusetts State Police and the FBI.

The shelter in place was lifted just after 5:30 p.m., about 3 hours after the order was first put into place.

Police say there are no reports of anyone hurt or shots fired, and at no time was there an active shooter. Police will remain in the area as a precaution throughout the night.

A Boston 25 News staff member who receives alerts from UMass Lowell received a text alerting students and staff members that police were responding to a weapons incident.

Another alert stated that police are searching for a “5′5″ asian male wearing a gray or white sweatshirt and black shorts carrying a long weapon."

Shortly before 5:00 p.m., students and staff began to pour out of buildings on campus as police facilitated a controlled evacuation.

“After an extensive search and investigation involving city and state police partners, law enforcement determined the suspect was no longer in the vicinity. The shelter in place order was lifted shortly after 5:15 p.m. (However, classes and events remained canceled for the rest of the day.),” a UMass Lowell spokesperson said.

FBI Boston also responded.

Several cruisers could be seen patrolling the area around the Rearview Suites and a helicopter could be seen circling the area.

Boston 25 News spoke with a student who began sheltering in a south campus building around 2:30 p.m.

“We received a bunch of text messages and e-mails saying that we need to stay put, stay in place and yeah, since then, we’re just in the hallway,” said junior Wafaa Kalai. “The class has been canceled. So most of the classrooms are actually closed and locked. The doors are locked and yeah, we’re in the room in the hallways.”

Kalai is a transfer student who was in the middle of the first day of classes on campus when she got the alert to shelter in place.

“There was nothing like this in my mind coming to a first day of school. I’m a public health major,” said Kalai. “What I do and what I study for is to care for people’s health and life. And being in a public school and being in Massachusetts, I thought that we are more on the safe side. So this definitely wasn’t in my mind, it wasn’t in my plans, but now I’m shook to my core.”

Another student, freshman Tyler Bernier, told Boston 25 News that he barricaded himself in a lecture hall with over 100 students.

Lowell police asked residents to stay away from the area of Middlesex Street, Pawtucket Street, and Broadway Street as police searched for the alleged armed man.

Lowell Public Schools also directed students to stay away from UMass Lowell’s south campus at the time.

“Students on the Bartlett and Stoklosa Cross Country teams are safely sheltering inside their schools,” Lowell public schools said. “Students who are still on buses will be delayed because of the rerouting of traffic, so be patient at the bus stop. Any student who cannot get to their bus stop do to the lockdown in the South Campus area will be taken to the Moody School.”

Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan posted on social media that she was monitoring the situation and asked people to follow directions from officials.

A press conference is expected to take place later Wednesday evening.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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