LOWELL — What started as a tense and chaotic first day of the autumn semester at UMass Lowell on Wednesday has now been confirmed as a false alarm.
The Lowell Police Division introduced on Thursday that the person reported to be carrying a firearm on the college’s South Campus was truly a juvenile in possession of an airsoft reproduction gun, which intently resembles an actual rifle.
“The safety of this city, and its residents and visitors, is our top priority, and the extensive response of personnel and assets by this department and our law enforcement partners was a testament to that commitment,” mentioned Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon mentioned in a press launch issued late Thursday morning. “I want to thank all our officers and partners for their brave response as well as our investigators for their diligent investigative work that brought closure to this incident. I would especially like to thank the residents of the affected neighborhood for their cooperation and understanding while this incident unfolded. While the reported firearm in this case was ultimately determined to be an airsoft gun, our community can be certain that, as in this case, the Lowell Police Department will always utilize all available resources until the safety of all involved is assured.”
The incident triggered a campus-wide shelter-in-place order, the cancellation of courses, and a sweeping legislation enforcement response involving a number of companies, which other than the Lowell Police and the UMass Lowell Police, included State Police Air Wing, quite a few space Okay-9 items, the Northeastern Massachusetts Regulation Enforcement Council Swat Crew, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
All of it started at about 2:30 p.m., when a report of an individual carrying an extended weapon close to Riverview Suites prompted emergency alerts instructing college students and employees to “run, hide, fight.”
The investigation was sparked by a video captured from a window of Riverview Suites, positioned off Middlesex Road, which captured a person strolling behind the constructing carrying what regarded like a rifle. The footage circulated shortly amongst college students and social media.
In a press launch issued after the lockdown was lifted on Wednesday, the Lowell Police emphasised that the incident was by no means an energetic shooter state of affairs and there was no proof of photographs fired. Police additionally famous at the moment that the presence of a weapon had not been confirmed.
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This can be a growing story.
Observe Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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