Students filming video cause lockdown alert at A-State - KAIT Jonesboro, AR - Region 8 News, weather, sports

According to Arkansas State University, students filming a video project near the Student Union, caused the 'Gunmen on campus' alert lockdown.

Arkansas State University sent this release, "Apparently students were filming a video project near the Union, and costumed actors were reported as possible campus intruders. These students have been located and interviewed by University Police Officers. As a result, it has been confirmed that there was no gunman."

The lockdown on the campus of Arkansas State University started around 1:45pm Sunday afternoon. 

Jonesboro police and other agencies responded to the campus, where several people had reportedly been seen on campus with guns.

They were reported to be near the student union. According to dispatch, the caller said three men wearing all black were carrying pistols.

According to Arkansas State, the University Police Department and other agencies cleared buildings in the affected area.

The lockdown was lifted about an hour after it was issued. 

Statement from Arkansas State University:

Numerous first responders from the University Police Department, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police and other law enforcement agencies worked swiftly and cooperatively this afternoon in response to what eventually turned out to be a false alarm on the campus. Apparently students were filming a video project near the Union, and costumed actors were reported as possible campus intruders by students who called 9-1-1.   These students have been located and interviewed by University Police Officers. As a result, it has been confirmed that there was no gunman on campus. The university immediately put a lockdown in place while the Union and surrounding areas were searched and cleared.  The university’s text and email alert system was used to notify students about the situation. Chancellor Tim Hudson, Vice Chancellor Rick Stripling, and other representatives of the university administration also responded to campus to assist in the crisis response.  The university response plan worked perfectly as designed. No injuries were reported, and normal campus operations have resumed. The University Police Department will continue to closely monitor the campus this evening as a precautionary measure. Chancellor Hudson expressed the university’s appreciation to all law enforcement personnel who responded so quickly to the perceived threat. 

The Jonesboro Police released this statement:

FALSE ALARM  CAUSES CAMPUS LOCKDOWN, POLICE RESPONSE

Jonesboro police worked cooperatively with university police and other law enforcement agencies Sunday afternoon in response to what turned out to be a false alarm. Jonesboro 911 Dispatch received a call shortly before 1:45 Sunday afternoon from a caller who reported that there were multiple persons with weapons near the Reng Student Union on campus. However, officers checked and cleared the Union and nearby Wilson Hall and Dean B. Ellis Library and found no armed persons. Police determined that students were filming a video project near the union and that costumed actors were reported as possible armed campus intruders. The students were located and were interviewed by university police. As a result, police were able to determine that there were no gunmen on campus. The university put a lockdown in place while officers cleared the Union and nearby buildings. The university’s text and e-mail alert system was used to notify students of the situation. No injuries were reported, no arrests were made and normal campus operations have resumed.

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