Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
By Molly Farrar
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a shelter-in-place warning for part of campus Thursday evening as police search for a man who was seen in a university building on Vassar Street.
Around 6:30 p.m., MIT police said they were searching for a man last seen in Building 37, or the McNair building, around 5:40 p.m. Students were advised to stay away from the area and shelter indoors.
In an emergency alert sent out to students just after 7 p.m., police said there were no further sightings of the man, who appears to be wanted by Somerville police. The shelter-in-place was lifted just after 7 p.m., but MIT police still advised students to “use vigilance/caution” while on campus.
At 8:30, MIT police said they finished their search of the campus, and the man hadn’t been seen after the initial sighting.
MIT Alert: Police searching for suspect in Main Group bldgs along Mass and Vassar. Stay away from area. If nearby, shelter indoors. More info: https://t.co/tI4xZYURuH
— MIT Police (@MITPolice) January 2, 2025
Last week, Somerville police said a 47-year-old white man was wanted on numerous outstanding warrants. The descriptions for the man – five foot 11 inches, 175 pounds – match MIT’s message.
Somerville police’s image of the man also matches MIT’s written description. The man has salt-and-pepper hair in a ponytail. MIT said he was wearing a dark jacket, a light shirt, and blue jeans.
SOMERVILLE POLICE CHIEF SHUMEANE BENFORD IS ASKING FOR THE COMMUNITY’S HELP IN LOCATING THE ABOVE PICTURED MALE. HE IS WANTED ON NUMEROUS OUSTANDING ARREST WARRANTS. IF SEEN, PLEASE CALL 911 AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THIS PERSON.
— SomervillePolice (@SomervillePD) December 29, 2024
47 YO WHITE MALE
5-11
175 LBS pic.twitter.com/5grplAXW8U
MIT did not respond to an inquiry to confirm if it is the same person being sought by Somerville police.
Anyone who sees the man should call MIT police at 617-253-1212, officials said.
Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Stay up to date with everything Boston. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com