Crime & Safety

Three in Custody Following Lockdown at CCSU [Updated]

Three men are in police custody and an investigation continues after reports that there was a man with a gun seen on the Connecticut campus Monday.

By Patch Editor Jason Vallee

Updated at 3:11 p.m. on Nov. 4:

Officers have taken three people, all male, into custody for further questioning and are talking with students at James Hall following reports that a man with a gun was seen on the campus of Central Connecticut State University around noon Monday. 

The men are believed to have been part of an incident that led CCSU, as well as nearby HALS Academy and Holmes Elementary schools, to be placed on lockdown after the "campus emergency," according to CCSU officials. 

"Stay sheltered in place," CCSU warned through its Twitter account. "Students of James Hall are in Barrows Hall being questioned by police."

The incident is being labeled as "contained," police said, but the school remains on lockdown as of 2:50 p.m. Classes have been cancelled for the rest of the day and a press conference has been scheduled for 4 p.m.

No charges or names have been released at this time. 

Police responded to the school with full SWAT response, calling on assistance from surrounding towns, and they are remaining on high alert. No injuries have been reported, police indicated, despite student reports to the contrary. 

Updated at 2:03 p.m. on Nov. 4:

Officials have confirmed that a man identified as the possible suspect of a weapons situation at Connecticut State University has been "contained and isolated," but the school remains on lockdown. 

Officers from throughout the region mobilized Monday after reports that a man carrying a gun and possibly a sword was seen on campus. No injuries have been reported at this time. 

As of 2 p.m., police were talking with a man who was considered "isolated" within the suite-style dorms on the southern part of campus in New Britain. The name of the man has not been released.

A heavy police presence has formed around James Hall on the south end of Central Connecticut State University as officers search for a man with a gun and possibly a sword, police confirmed, leaving the university and nearby elementary schools on lockdown.

Police and school officials are saying "this is not an active shooter." New Britain and West Hartford SWAT have gathered along the southern end of the campus and are moving toward the apparent source of the issue, police said. 

Police have not reported any injuries as of yet, despite some social media posts to the contrary. Road closures were reported at Cedar Street, East Street and Paul Manafort Drive. 

Officers are continuing to surround James Hall, a residence hall on campus. HALS Academy and Holmes Elementary schools were placed into a "modified lockdown" after the "campus emergency," according to officials. 

Anyone in the area is urged to take shelter as the investigation continues. The schools released the following via Twitter: 

"All on campus must seek shelter and stay indoors. This is not a drill! Campus emergency."

The original report follows:

Police are on scene at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain as reports come in of a possible gunman on campus.

In an alert on its website, CCSU states:

"Get inside buildings & Stay in place!
Stay away from Windows."

"Police are on the Scene."

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.


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