UMass Lowell Lifts Shelter In Place After Hunt For Gunman

LOWELL, MA — UMass Lowell has lifted a shelter-in-place order issued Wednesday after a man was spotted carrying what may have been a firearm.

All classes and and events for the rest of Wednesday had already been canceled as police searched for a possible gunman on campus and remained canceled after the shelter-in-place order was lifted shortly after 5:15 p.m.

The order was issued after police were alerted to the possible gunman, a school official said.

"Police from UMass Lowell and the city of Lowell were alerted this afternoon to reports of a male on South Campus carrying an object suspected of being a firearm," Nancy Cicco, the assistant director of media relations for UMass Lowell, said in an email.

The Lowell Police Department issued a statement saying they received a report of a possible gunman about 2:30 p.m.

"Patrol officers immediately responded and began to search the area," the statement said.

"The Lowell Police Department Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone) was deployed as well as the
Massachusetts State Police Air Wing," according to the statement. "Numerous Police K9s, Massachusetts State Police Troopers, the NEMLEC Swat Team, UMass Lowell Police, LNHP Law Enforcement Rangers, the FBI, and ATF also responded to assist."

The Massachusetts State Police posted on Facebook that they were "aware" of a video showing what appears to be an armed individual.

"We are aware of a video circulating of a person who appears to be armed walking in Lowell near the Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street," the post said. "State and Local Police have responded to the area to further investigate."

The Lowell police said they also not only knew of the video, but go ahold of it.

"The Lowell Police Department is aware of the video circulating on social media and obtained the video upon arrival to the scene," police said.

The FBI posted on social media that its agents also responded to the campus.

"FBI Boston is on scene and coordinating with our law enforcement partners," FBI Boston posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "We encourage the public to remain vigilant and avoid the area."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also posted about its response on X.

"ATF Agents are responding to reports of an armed individual at UMass Lowell," the post said. "Please follow directions from UMass Lowell and Lowell Police."

The Lowell Police Department stressed that no shots were fired Wednesday.

"At no time was this an active shooter situation and there is no evidence of shots fired," the department statement said.