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A thorough search of Lockwood Library on the University at Buffalo North Campus found no suspicious person this evening, despite earlier reports of a gunman on the campus.
at 7:45 p.m., police completed a search of the library and found nothing suspicious, said Joseph a. Brennan, associate vice president of communications at UB.
“No suspicious person was found. Police have determined there is no threat to campus. Classes will resume tomorrow,” Brennan said.
a campus-wide emergency alert was issued at 4:30 p.m. after an official familiar with the search said a UB police officer monitoring a bank of surveillance camera screens saw what appeared to be a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder entering the library.
This prompted UB to evacuate Lockwood Library at about 4:30 and to send out an emergency text message and e-mail alert to members of the campus community warning people to stay away from the building.
No weapon was found, no injuries were reported and there were no reports of shots fired.
Gallery: Photos from the scene at North Campus by Harry Scull Jr. and John Hickey
UB police armed with rifles were stationed around Lockwood Library and were warning people in the immediate area to get inside, though many students on campus initially weren’t aware of what was happening.
UB senior Ethan Lam was on the second floor of Lockwood at about 4:30 when someone came by telling everyone to get out of the building. the evacuation was conducted peacefully, he said.
“At the time, we didn’t realize what was going on,” Lam said. “It seems so serious now.”
the university shifted police from the South Campus to the North Campus in response to the alert and Buffalo police provided backup assistance by covering security on the city campus.
As a precaution, the university canceled classes and activities on the North Campus through the rest of this evening.
Brennan said campus security stepped up it presence, increasing patrols on the campus.
“We think our police responded very well,” he said.
News Staff Reporter T.J. Pignataro contributed to this report.
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UB's Lockwood Library evacuated after unconfirmed reports of gunman