The University of Massachusetts Lowell campus was on lockdown for several hours on Wednesday, Sept. 3, while police tried to find a man who was reportedly seen on video holding what looked like a gun.
“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,” the University said on its website, adding that there were “no reports of a shooting.”
Text messages sent through the school’s emergency system earlier 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,” WCVB5 reported.
State and local police responded to the campus. They confirmed 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 searched the area carefully.
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The shelter-in-place order was lifted several hours later “after law enforcement partners determined the suspect was no longer in the vicinity,” according to the University.
Trooper Brandon Doherty with the Massachusetts State Police told PEOPLE that police will continue gathering information as part of the investigation.
“There are no reports of any shots fired or injuries,” Doherty said. “Troopers and officers will maintain a presence in and around the city as a precaution … If you have any information, photos, or video of the suspect, please report it to Lowell Police Department.”
FBI Boston also confirmed its role in the investigation in a post on X, saying the agency continues to “provide assistance to our law enforcement partners,” and reminding the public to “remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.”
