Monday evening, Colgate University, located in Hamilton, New York, went on lockdown for four hours. Police had received reports of a gunman on the college campus. The reports turned out to be false. The threat was actually a student…using a hot glue gun.
Yes, you read that right. A hot glue gun. The kind you use for art projects.
According to university spokesman Daniel DeVries, someone had “entered the O’Connor Campus Center while carrying what witnesses believed was a weapon.”
Colgate Alert: There is an armed person at the Coop. Find a safe space and remain indoors. If you are off-campus,stay away.
— Colgate University (@colgateuniv) May 2, 2017
Law enforcement is on campus for reports of an alleged armed person in the Coop. They are searching the building.
— Colgate University (@colgateuniv) May 2, 2017
Campus safety officials report there have been no shots fired. Situation is still under investigation. Updates as available.
— Colgate University (@colgateuniv) May 2, 2017
Law enforcement continues to investigate reports of armed individual. No reports of shots fired. Updates will continue as available.
— Colgate University (@colgateuniv) May 2, 2017
New York State Police have issued the all-clear. Officers remain in the Coop finishing their investigation.
— Colgate University (@colgateuniv) May 2, 2017
While the university claims the overreaction came because of the stabbings at University of Texas at Austin, students believe the administration’s assumption was based on the “suspect” being black.
“After thorough investigation, and with the assistance of the person in question, law enforcement identified the individual as a student who was using a glue gun for an art project, confirmed the misunderstanding, and released the campus from lockdown,” said a Colgate statement. “We understand that this has been a very upsetting evening on many levels. Students who wish to gather at the chapel to be together can do so tonight at 12:30 a.m.”
After the university looked into the incident further, a campus safety director was put on administrative leave after determining the individual used “implicit racial bias” when reporting the incident to authorities.
“More egregiously, perhaps, was the effect profiling had on the response of safety officers and other university offices to these events,” Colgate University President Brian W. Casey said in a statement.“My obligation is, first, to demand a full accounting of what happened. My next obligation is to take steps to ensure the safety of all Colgate students, faculty and staff.”
The investigation should take 10 days to complete, at which time Casey will share his findings with students and faculty.
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