PUBLIC SAFETY: UB library evacuated on fears of gunman

Students, faculty and staff were evacuated Tuesday afternoon from a library on the North Campus of the University at Buffalo following reports of a possible gunman inside the building.

University and Amherst police armed with shotguns surrounded the six-story building, which was put in “lockdown.” A video posted on the Web site twitter.com showed police with guns drawn inside the Lockwood Memorial Library searching for the gunman. The video was posted to the Web site for only a brief period.

Police found no suspect or a weapon, completing their search of the building at 7:45 p.m., university officials said.

The university issued several updates about the incident via text message, e-mail and on its Web site. The last one, released at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday said: “At about 4:03 p.m. today, University at Buffalo police responded to a call of a suspicious person seen entering Lockwood Library, possibly with a gun.”

After receiving the report, university police issued a text message alert telling people to stay away.

A Tonawanda High School graduate who attends the university forwarded the 4:40 p.m. text to the News: “UB Police have evacuated Lockwood Library on North Campus. Please stay away until further notice.”

Police cars and ambulances were posted at campus entrances. School officials announced at 5:40 p.m. that classes and activities on the Amherst campus would be canceled Tuesday. Although it was cleared, the library remained closed for the evening.

“All we have right now is a report of a suspicious person,” University spokesman Joe Brennan said in a 7 p.m. news release. “No one has been hurt, and no shots have been fired. Police are taking this seriously, and doing a careful, thorough search.”

Claire Kerstein’s English class was on the bottom floor of the building when a librarian came in and, without explanation, ordered everyone out.

“I basically ran out as fast as I could,” the 18-year-old from Rochester said. “I just wanted to make sure I was going to be safe. There were a lot of police all around the building.”

During the incident, Buffalo police assisted by patrolling the South Campus, university officials said.

“The safety of our students, faculty and staff is always our primary concern,” UB Provost Satish Tripathi said. “The university's campus alert and emergency response was enacted quickly and appropriately. Police patrols will be increased on the North Campus.”