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Juvenile with ‘airsoft replica weapon’ determined to have caused UMass Lowell lockdown
A large law enforcement response descended on the university's campus Wednesday after reports of a person with a gun.
A juvenile male with an airsoft gun was to blame for a three-hour lockdown that brought a massive police response to the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus Wednesday, authorities said.
The apparent firearm the juvenile was seen carrying in widely circulated video was actually an airsoft replica weapon that has since been recovered, according to the Lowell Police Department. It was not immediately clear Thursday whether the juvenile faces criminal charges in connection with the incident.
The security scare began around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, when a report of a person carrying a “long weapon” behind the Riverside Suites on South Campus prompted UMass Lowell to instruct community members to shelter in place and “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.”
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Video posted to social media appeared to show someone walking behind a residential building while aiming a rifle-style gun. There were no reported shots or injuries, according to UMass Lowell.
The ensuing search involved not only local authorities, but also the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and “numerous” K-9s, Lowell police said.
“The safety of this city, and its residents and visitors, is our top priority,” Lowell Superintendent of Police Greg Hudon said in a statement. “The extensive response of personnel and assets by this department and our law enforcement partners was a testament to that commitment.”
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Hudon added: “While the reported firearm in this case was ultimately determined to be an airsoft gun, our community can be certain that, as in this case, the Lowell Police Department will always utilize all available resources until the safety of all involved is assured.”
Addressing the campus community, UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen shed further light on the airsoft gun involved in Wednesday’s incident, explaining, “these devices are designed to shoot small plastic pellets but often closely resemble real firearms, which understandably causes alarm.”
To that end, UMass Lowell advertised a number of campus mental health resources available to students, faculty, and staff. The university’s classes resumed as scheduled Thursday, a decision Chen said “reflects our belief that our campus is a safe place to learn and work.”
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