An active shooter situation has been reported on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
According to the university’s official Twitter account, “an active shooter” had been “spotted at the student union.” The same tweet advised everyone in the facility to “evacuate to the west side of the building and clear the area.”
Report of an active shooter spotted at the student union. Everyone should evacuate to the west side of the building and clear the area.
— Arkansas State (@ArkansasState) December 10, 2015
Minutes later, CNN’s AnneClaire Stapleton tweeted that the suspect was a male who had apparently driven “onto campus with a gun.” He was “surrounded by officers” and no shots had been fired. Despite this, campus was still on lockdown.
#CNN: @ArkansasState– male drove onto campus with a gun, the person is surrounded by officers. Campus still lockdown. No shots, police say
— AnneClaire Stapleton (@AnneClaireCNN) December 10, 2015
The university’s official Twitter account subsequently confirmed this.
The individual with a weapon has been surrounded by police. No shots have been fired, no reported injuries.
— Arkansas State (@ArkansasState) December 10, 2015
Watch live coverage from KMC-5 below.
UPDATE–3:02 p.m. ET: Students reported receiving text messages from the university’s campus alert system.
Not the kind of text you ever want. Say a pray for Arkansas State. There is an active shooter on campus. pic.twitter.com/Ta2Kcqyyjr
— The Classy Lady (@_TheClassyLady_) December 10, 2015
Meanwhile, others posted photos from the alleged gunman’s standoff with police. The individual is driving a green Chevrolet with an American flag attached to the back of it.
Currently pic.twitter.com/4EY7AHGG08
— Jama Lynn Domerese (@TheBadMammaJama) December 10, 2015
The Associated Press reports a university spokesperson confirmed the standoff, and that no shots had been fired.
BREAKING: Arkansas State University spokesman says person with weapon surrounded by police, no shots fired.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 10, 2015
UPDATE–3:13 p.m. ET: KMC-5 reports that the suspect drove through a security barrier to drive onto campus. In addition to a gun, he’s also armed with a tank of gas.
Mark Smith of the campus KASU radio station told the station that reports indicated the man was in “protest mode” and was shouting at police.
UPDATE–3:49p.m. ET: Another photo of the suspect’s green Chevrolet has popped up on Twitter. There appears to be some sort of yellow cloth or flag draped across the front windshield.
Active shooter pic.twitter.com/3vpYgm3ISf
— Kendrien Ingram (@DoeBQue) December 10, 2015
UPDATE–3:54 p.m. ET: Arkansas State University’s Twitter account reports the suspect has been placed in custody. Even so, the campus remains on lockdown.
The suspect has been placed in custody. Police are investigating the scene. Remain on lockdown.
— Arkansas State (@ArkansasState) December 10, 2015
Mediaite will update this post as more information becomes available throughout the day.
[Image via Twitter]
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