Faculty, staff and students at Claremont McKenna College received multiple safety alerts to avoid the area because of a potential shooter on campus on Thursday evening, March 13.
An initial alert that came through at 4:56 p.m. warned the campus community of police activity on campus, before a 5:11 p.m. email that said there was a possible shooter.
“POTENTIAL SHOOTER ON CMC CAMPUS STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA GHEAVY (sic) POLICE PRESENCE IN THE AREA,” the alert read.
Recipients were urged to avoid all places where law enforcement was present and to call 911 or campus police if they saw any suspicious activity.
At 5:15 p.m., campus safety officials urged anyone on campus to shelter in place.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call to standby at 5:12 p.m.
About a dozen police and SWAT vehicles were seen around Columbia and 8th, and two helicopters circled overhead around 6 p.m.
Claremont police said they received one call about a potential active shooter and officials have been checking multiple buildings on campus, but because they only received one report, they said it could have been a swatting call, or hoax.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.