‘Shots fired’ alert at SLU ends when student is found with toy gun
Saint Louis University’s Department of Public Safety and St. Louis Metropolitan police investigated a report of a man with a gun and a report of shots fired on campus Wednesday evening only to find a student was walking around with a toy gun.
University officials sent out a tweet at 5:21 p.m. saying a man wearing a black hoodie — “who may have a hand gun” — was in Spring Hall. Then they tweeted at 5:38 p.m. telling people near Marchetti East to shelter in place due to shots being fired.
A man wearing a black hoodie and who may have a hand gun is in Spring Hall. All are advised to stay clear of Spring Hall.
— SaintLouisUniversity (@SLU_Official) May 3, 2017
A release from university officials later stated that shortly after the report of the man walking around Spring Hall another call came into DPS reporting shots fired.
Students living in Spring Hall are being relocated to the Simon Recreational Center, according to university officials.
Shots fired out side Marchetti East shelter in place
— SaintLouisUniversity (@SLU_Official) May 3, 2017
Shortly after, St. Louis police tweeted that they could not confirm shots had been fired but a male student was in custody.
They questioned a man who matched the first description and discovered he was not a suspect.
“Additional witness interviews led to the identification of a second student of interest who was located and questioned by authorities,” the release stated.
A male student is in custody on SLU campus. There is no confirmation of any shots fired on or around campus. The investigation is ongoing.
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) May 3, 2017
No one suffered any injuries.
At 7:17 p.m. school officials tweeted the all clear for people on campus to resume their normal activities.
Dana Rieck: 618-239-2642, @ByDanaRieck
This story was originally published May 3, 2017 at 5:37 PM with the headline "‘Shots fired’ alert at SLU ends when student is found with toy gun."