Princeton University Gun Scare
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:06 am
Princeton University was on lockdown after a man holding what appeared to be a handgun was spotted on campus, school officials said. The lockdown lasted for about half an hour.
Police took four juvenile suspects into custody just before 11:30 a.m. None of the four suspects were students. One had a toy gun in his waistband.
The four kids were apparently rummaging through some sort of trash dumpster and told cops that's where they found the toy gun, police sources told NBCNewYork.com. One of the juveniles picked up the fake gun, put it in his belt and started walking away with the other three kids when a woman spotted the gun in his waistband and called police. It's not clear whether she was a student.
No shots were fired. It wasn't clear how many people were on campus at the time of the incident. Police believe the incident stemmed from a bigger problem of kids from town going on campus and rummaging through dumpsters looking for unused alcohol, which campus security says has been on ongoing problem.
This is the message posted on Princeton's Web site:
"At 11:25 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, Princeton University's Department of Public Safety issued an all clear, and has reported there was no gunman on campus. Campus community members should resume normal activities.
The continuing investigation is being conducted with Princeton Borough and Township police, and the Department of Public Safety has re-opened the campus. Shortly before 11 a.m., a male with what appeared to be a handgun was reported near the vicinity of Dod Hall dormitory.
Check the Princeton home page at http://www.princeton.edu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for updates. Campus community members can check their e-mail as well."
Earlier, Princeton had cautioned students to stay inside while police investigated reports of a gunman.
The university's commencement ceremonies were held yesterday. More than 1,100 undergraduates and 753 graduate students received degrees.
Police took four juvenile suspects into custody just before 11:30 a.m. None of the four suspects were students. One had a toy gun in his waistband.
The four kids were apparently rummaging through some sort of trash dumpster and told cops that's where they found the toy gun, police sources told NBCNewYork.com. One of the juveniles picked up the fake gun, put it in his belt and started walking away with the other three kids when a woman spotted the gun in his waistband and called police. It's not clear whether she was a student.
No shots were fired. It wasn't clear how many people were on campus at the time of the incident. Police believe the incident stemmed from a bigger problem of kids from town going on campus and rummaging through dumpsters looking for unused alcohol, which campus security says has been on ongoing problem.
This is the message posted on Princeton's Web site:
"At 11:25 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, Princeton University's Department of Public Safety issued an all clear, and has reported there was no gunman on campus. Campus community members should resume normal activities.
The continuing investigation is being conducted with Princeton Borough and Township police, and the Department of Public Safety has re-opened the campus. Shortly before 11 a.m., a male with what appeared to be a handgun was reported near the vicinity of Dod Hall dormitory.
Check the Princeton home page at http://www.princeton.edu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for updates. Campus community members can check their e-mail as well."
Earlier, Princeton had cautioned students to stay inside while police investigated reports of a gunman.
The university's commencement ceremonies were held yesterday. More than 1,100 undergraduates and 753 graduate students received degrees.