A juvenile, wielding a replica Airsoft gun, has sparked concerns at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, leading to lockdowns on the first day of classes, according to police reports from Thursday.
This minor, whose name is withheld due to age, was seen lingering around the campus, treating the toy-like firearm as if preparing for a film scene.
Police received a call about an armed individual shortly before 2:30 PM on Wednesday, coinciding with the start of undergraduate classes.
As a safety precaution, all classes and events were abruptly canceled for the day. Authorities, including FBI agents, meticulously searched the campus in response to the potential threat. They even utilized drones and K9 units to aid in the investigation.
The lockdown was lifted about two hours later after investigators declared the suspect was no longer near the area. The University of Massachusetts Lowell confirmed this in a statement.
Fortunately, no shots were fired, according to the Lowell Police Department.
The investigation continued into Thursday, resulting in the recovery of replica firearms from the juvenile.
“While it was eventually determined that the reported gun was an airsoft weapon, the Lowell Police Department assures the community that all resources will be employed to ensure safety in such situations,” stated police officials.
There is still some ambiguity regarding how the authorities managed to locate the individual with the fake firearm and what his intentions were on campus.
Initially, the suspect was described as a “5’5 Asian man” wearing a gray or white sweatshirt and black shorts, leading to some speculation about the firearm involved.
The Lowell police emphasized that it did not turn into an active shooter scenario since no shots were discharged.
The public research university, situated about 45 minutes north of Boston, hosts around 12,000 students.
This incident follows closely on the heels of other reports of false shootings at various universities across the country, notably two incidents at Villanova University just a couple of weeks ago.
It remains uncertain if the minor will face any criminal charges regarding this false alarm.
