With tensions high following a Charlie Kirk vigil, a shelter in place was issued Thursday evening at UNC-Wilmington because of a false alarm about a gunman on campus. (USA Today via Reuters)
Less than 24 hours after unconfirmed reports of a gunman were found to be untrue, UNC-Wilmington’s chancellor said “the very sanctity of our campus home has been violated.”
The school released a message from UNC-Wilmington Chancellor Aswani Volety via video on Sept. 19 with some details on threats that caused a shelter-in-place alert for more than two hours in the evening of Sept. 18.
Around 9:47 p.m. an all clear was given and the threat deemed a false alarm.
“We have experienced fear, dread, concern, and yes, even anger,” Volety said.
“The very sanctity of our campus home has been violated, and I am angry for this violation.”
The school sent out a statement around 11:40 p.m. on Sept. 18 to announce classes were canceled on Sept. 19 “in an abundance of caution.”
It comes amid several incidents that threatened school safety in the days following a vigil on Sept. 15 at UNCW to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including students painting over a Kirk memorial on the school’s “spirit rock” to UNCW police responding to a threat on campus in the early morning hours of Sept. 18.
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What happened?
According to Volety, “The incident began with a series of anonymous reports and tips about a gunman on campus. University police continued to work to validate the threat to our campus. When a report from a credible individual was received, we then sent out a campus alert.”
Hundreds of law enforcement officers from the University Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, and Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident, Volety said.
The university was cleared of any threat around 9:47 p.m.
No other information regarding the source of the reports has been revealed.
A message sent on behalf of the chancellor and his cabinet stated: “Please be aware that much misinformation is circulating on social media.”
Where was Volety?
According to the video, Volety was at the school’s Burney Center and sheltered in place with “around 35 members of faculty, staff and students” during the threat.
What’s next?
In Volety’s Sept. 19 video statement, the chancellor vowed to improve safety measures on UNCW campus.
“It is my duty to secure the integrity and safety of our university. I will not rest until we improve upon the already extraordinary effort demonstrated yesterday,” Volety said.
He also stated that the investigation into the incident was ongoing.
“Our law enforcement partners are shifting from a safety and intervention position to investigating what started this chain of events,” Volety said.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: ‘I am angry for this violation’: UNCW chancellor shares update on false alarm lockdown
Reporting by Daniel Sheehan and Charlie Kingree, Wilmington StarNews / Wilmington StarNews
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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