Lockdown at Westfield State lifted after police deem threat ‘unfounded’
Westfield State University was locked down for roughly 90 minutes Monday afternoon after a report of a suspicious man on campus.
The lockdown was lifted shortly before 3 p.m. after the threat was determined to be “unfounded,” state police tweeted.
Threat determined to be unfounded. Lock down lifted. Campus is resuming normal operations. https://t.co/Vf1ZQzIIoF
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 13, 2017
State police initially responded to the campus after the report of a man with a “trench coat, backpack and possibly body armor.”
Troopers responding to Westfield State University to assist campus PD for report of suspicious man. Description is white male w/ trench coat, backpack and possibly body armor. Search underway. Info NOT confirmed as accurate yet. Campus currently locked down. Updates to come.
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 13, 2017
Police then conducted a sweep of the campus and interviewed the “sole witness” who made the report.
WSU remains locked down, suspect search, sweep of campus still underway. The sole witness who reported suspect is being interviewed. https://t.co/1WLGBufNYF
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 13, 2017
Throughout the lockdown, the university, just west of Springfield, updated the campus community on Twitter and its website.
