LSU President F King Alexander has released a statement on the reported armed intruder on campus Tuesday in which no threat was found.
The incident occurred Tuesday around 3:00 p.m. LSU Police were called to Coates Hall in reference to a possible armed intruder. It was later determined that the intruder was a plainclothes officer, according to the University.
Alexander says that he thankful for the fast response and that an individual made the report of a suspicious individual. "We are thankful for the person who made the initial report of the suspicious individual, and I want to reiterate that this is precisely how we hope that our students, faculty and staff react in these moments. If you see something, say something," a statement reads.
The full response from F King Alexander can be viewed below. Read more on the incident here.
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Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Yesterday, our entire campus community experienced a frightening situation after someone reported seeing an armed individual enter Coates Hall. Luckily, through fast action and the dedication of the LSU Police Department, we were able to secure the location and determine that the sighting was actually a plainclothes officer.
We are very fortunate that yesterday’s situation was a false alarm. All too often around the country and the world, such events have tragic endings. Unfortunately, an active shooter on campus is a situation that universities now must be prepared for at all times.
We are thankful for the person who made the initial report of the suspicious individual, and I want to reiterate that this is precisely how we hope that our students, faculty and staff react in these moments. If you see something, say something. You can directly report questionable activities to the LSUPD at (225) 578-3231 or by calling 911 in an emergency. I can’t emphasize how important it is to err on the side of caution. We would rather have a false alarm than not be aware of a potential issue.
I also want to thank our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their quick and thorough action. I want to additionally extend my appreciation to the team in our Emergency Operations Center for providing critical communications and support as the situation unfolded and our students and employees for following university messaging.
The emergency messages provided by the university are vital in these moments, so I urge everyone to register their mobile phone number through their myLSU account to receive these updates. Also, please visit https://www.lsu.edu/police/safety/videos.php to watch some basic safety videos that will better prepare you in case there is ever an emergency on campus. By taking a few minutes to do this now, you will be better prepared, just in case. To learn more about LSU’s emergency preparedness, visit https://www.lsu.edu/erp/and review the safety resources available to the LSU community.
While we are grateful that yesterday’s events did not result in a tragedy on our campus, we must remain vigilant and prepared for any future event. The safety of our students, faculty and staff will always be the top priority of LSU.
Sincerely,
F. King Alexander
LSU President
