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According to a Ferrum College spokeswoman, a member of the housekeeping staff reported possibly seeing a person on campus who wasn’t supposed to be there, in the area of Bassett Hall.
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Published: February 26, 2008
Updated: February 26, 2008
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Ferrum College along with law enforcement will hold another news conference at 4:30 p.m.
WSLS will carry this live on-air as well as stream it on the web. Click here at 4:30 p.m. to watch.
Click here for video from the 4:30 news conference
From the Ferrum Web site:
YOU MAY CALL 540-365-5555 FOR MORE INFORMATION. click here for Ferrum’s emergency info page.
No one has been injured, but Ferrum College remains locked down today after a member of the college’s housekeeping staff saw a young man armed with a handgun in a dormitory, officials said. Classes have been cancelled for the day.
He saw that she saw him, and told the housekeeper “not to say anything, everything is all right,“ said Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt. The man then continued walking in the dorm, the housekeeper said.
Campus officials said the initial text alert described a “possible shooting” because they wanted to err on the side of caution.
Ferrum College President Jennifer L. Braaten said today’s incident is proof that the college’s safety system works. In the wake of last April’s shootings at Virginia Tech and the more recent Northern Illinois University shootings, “We’re being hypervigilant,“ she said. “You can never be too safe.“
At 10:16 a.m., about two hours after the college notified students of a possible shooting on campus, another text alert went out saying “Everyone is safe.“
The following was posted this morning on Ferrum’s Web site: “In the best interest of the Ferrum College students, faculty and staff, we have put the college into a lockdown as a result of a possible situation on campus. There have been no incidents or injuries. Authorities have been notified and are on campus and in control.“
Here is the text of the alerts sent out by the college this morning:
7:54 a.m.: POSSIBLE SHOOTING ON CAMPUS. STAY INDOORS. MORE DETAILS TO COME.
8:13 a.m.: FERRUM COLLEGE CAMPUS ON LOCKDOWN. STAY INDOORS.
8:43 a.m.: SIREN SILENCED BUT CAMPUS STILL ON LOCKDOWN. STAY INDOORS.
9:53 a.m.: CLASSES FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 ARE CANCELLED.
10:16 a.m.: CONTINUE TO STAY INDOORS. AUTHORITIES ARE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. EVERYONE IS SAFE.
10:39 a.m.: AS OF 10:30 AM, CAMPUS STILL ON LOCKDOWN. CONTINUE TO STAY INDOORS.
2:40 p.m.: LOCKDOWN CONTINUES AS AUTHORITIES ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE INVESTIGATION. STUDENTS AND EMPLOYESS REMAIN SAFE IN CENTRALIZED LOCATION.
Lucia Burnette, spokeswoman for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, said the lockdown and search of the buildings is “very much precautionary.“
“It’s a very good exercise for when there could be something serious,“ she said. “But there were no shots fired, nothing like that. Just a suspicious male seen in a building.“
Ferrum Elementary School also locked down as a result of the situation on Ferrum College’s campus.
In Franklin County, on Route 40 east and west, at Route 748, just west of Ferrum, the road is closed. A detour, with signs, is in place at Route 781, (King Richard Road). Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and expect delays.
Stay with WSLS for more information.
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Reader Reactions
I think that the media gives too much attention to things like this. I am aware you need to report these things and that is great and all but as in the VA Tech situation it was WAY OVERBOARD and WAY TOO MUCH INFO given and everyday more and more. There are disturbed individuals in this country to strive on these things and by you and other media sources “harping consistently” on these cases unfortuantely it gives more ideas for the disturbed individuals to do this type of nonsense. People have girlfriends and boyfriends that come and go, they don’t have a right to kill them. Move on more fish in the sea!!! By the media striving on these things to have some news is absurd. I live in Rocky Mount, I have family members that work at this college. I have been so unhappy about how much media was given about VA Tech it was a tragedy and this is for sure but don’t give so much detail in my opinion or things will continue to get worse. People will get this info and take it in and do these things whether for serious mental problems or whether it be just getting on the news for attention. Please take into consideration how much and how long these situations needs to be discussed. Maybe if you stop discussing and noticing and reminding people then some of these acts of hate will stop.
Thank you for your time
I grew up in Franklin County and I live near VT now. I can’t imagine this in a million years. I have friends that attend the college. Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers!!
I graduated from there in 2003 and can not believe why anyone would want to harm that College community. Its a shame
Happy to learn everyone is safe. Better have what may turn out to be a false alarm than another event similar to what we had a Tech.
Also glad to see the wonderful response by our fantastic police. They didn’t mess around with this potential threat, did they!
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