The campus of Virginia Tech University was placed on lockdown Thursday morning after kids attending a summer science camp on the campus reported seeing a man carrying what looked like a gun.
Students have been instructed to stay inside and secure their doors. While there have been no further sightings, authorities say they're using "an abundance of caution" in their response, no doubt recalling the 2007 shooting on the campus that left 33 people dead.
From MSNBC:
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking people to stay indoors for now," Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations, said at a news conference.
Police were still searching for the man late Thursday morning, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum told reporters.
Advertisement
The university issued an alert on its website at 9:37 a.m. telling students and employees to stay inside and secure doors.
A subsequent crime alert said three children attending a camp on campus reported seeing a white man who appeared to have a gun covered with a cloth.
Flinchum said they interviewed the children and determined that their report was credible. Officers responding to the area were unable to find anyone matching the description.
Advertisement
Read more and get updates on this developing story at MSNBC.
In other news: Bloomberg to Help Fund Youth Initiative.