The University of Massachusetts Lowell is on lockdown following reports of a possible active shooter on campus.
An armed man was seen aiming an apparent rifle at college buildings as he walked through campus Wednesday afternoon.
The university has put students and staff under a shelter-in-place alert as police launch a manhunt for the suspect.
Officers are searching for a 5’5′ Asian man wearing a gray or white sweatshirt, black shorts and carrying a long weapon.
He was spotted near the Riverview Suites residence hall on south campus.
There is currently a heavy police presence on the campus. Massachusetts State Police and the FBI agents have responded to the scene to support local authorities.
Lowell Mayor Daniel Rourke added that the city is ‘utilizing all available resources at this time’.
The public is urged to ‘remain vigilant’ and ‘avoid the area’ while the armed suspect remains at large.
The suspected gunman was seen aiming an apparent rifle at college buildings as the university put students and staff under a shelter-in-place alert
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is on lockdown following reports of a possible active shooter on campus
There is currently a heavy police presence on the campus as officers search for the supect
There are no reports of shots fired on the campus, but police are still searching for the armed suspect.
‘We are aware of a video circulating of a person who appears to be armed walking in Lowell near the Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street,’ MSP said on X.
‘State and Local Police have responded to the area to further investigate. Anyone with relevant information should call 911.’
Lowell Police told the Daily Mail that the search for the man was still ‘ongoing’ just before 5pm on Wednesday.
‘Police are searching for a man who was spotted near UMass Lowell with what appeared to be a firearm,’ a spokesperson for the department said.
‘No shots have been fired and no threats were made. The search is being conducted out of an abundance of caution. The search is ongoing.’
Congresswoman Lori Trahan said she is monitoring the situation.
‘I’m actively monitoring the alert of a potentially armed individual near UMass Lowell’s South Campus and in touch with local officials,’ she tweeted.
‘If you are in Lowell, please follow directions from Lowell Police Department (Official) and UMass Lowell.’
There are no reports of shots fired on the campus, but police are still searching for the suspect
State police and the FBI have responded to the scene to support local authorities
The university has issued a shelter-in-place alert to students and staff as police launch a manhunt for the suspect
A university spokesperson said in a statement to The Boston Globe: ‘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.
‘A campus-wide shelter in place order has been issued as officers attempt to find this individual.’
The FBI is one scene and working with its law enforcement partners.
There are approximately 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at UMass Lowell, with more than 3,700 living in campus residence halls.
The incident comes as a wave of so-called ‘swatting’ hoaxes have targeted colleges and universities across the country as students return to campuses for fall classes.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
