2008 Woodie Awards
Gun scare evacuates Peck Hall
Daniel Potter
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
Rumor of a gunman on campus triggered an impromptu evacuation of Peck Hall by over 100 students Tuesday morning.
"A suspicious, early-morning e-mail message to police at MTSU stated that the sender overheard that someone was going to bring a gun to campus and 'do something to the teacher in PH,' which may allude to Peck Hall," said Tom Tozer, director of News and Public Affairs here.
No one reported actually seeing a gun on campus, Tozer said.
"At this time, no campus buildings have officially been evacuated, although some individuals and classes chose to leave Peck Hall and other buildings," he said.
Many students congregated outside Peck Hall around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, in easy range of the rumored gunman, some noted. MTSU police were on the scene as well, but for several minutes not even the authorities seemed clear about the situation.
"I have no idea what's going on at this time," said Campus Police Officer Wayne Gentry, who was on the scene.
Marc Cox, a sophomore international relations major, said some present seemed to be enforcing the unofficial evacuation.
"I was going up the steps and an older guy dragged me down and said, 'You gotta leave, there's a gun threat in the building,'" Cox said. "I think he was staff."
Cox said at first he didn't realize the crowd outside was due to any evacuation.
"I was like, 'Wow, everyone's out here all non-chalant.'"
Shortly before 10 a.m. authorities determined there was no threat in the building and waved everyone inside.
However, by noon, English classes in the building had been cancelled for the rest of the day, or relocated to other buildings. Classes for some other departments, including psychology, proceeded as scheduled there.
"We think it could have been a hoax, much like the e-mail we received in August about the false bomb threat," said Buddy Peaster, MTSU chief of police. "It might have been sent out to cause confusion or because it was April 1. It could also turn out to be something 100 percent true."
In a situtation similar to the gunman threat on Tuesday or bomb threat on Friday, Peaster said the most important concern the MTSU community can focus on is safety.
"It helps us as a community not to be controlled by fear," Peaster said. "Instead, we need to stay vigilant about our safety and take proper precautions."
As for the e-mail, Peaster said police have already contacted Yahoo.com in order to trace the e-mail account.
"If it comes down to it, to subpoena data records may take us a little while, but it would be nice to know which machine it came from," Peaster said.
"A suspicious, early-morning e-mail message to police at MTSU stated that the sender overheard that someone was going to bring a gun to campus and 'do something to the teacher in PH,' which may allude to Peck Hall," said Tom Tozer, director of News and Public Affairs here.
No one reported actually seeing a gun on campus, Tozer said.
"At this time, no campus buildings have officially been evacuated, although some individuals and classes chose to leave Peck Hall and other buildings," he said.
Many students congregated outside Peck Hall around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, in easy range of the rumored gunman, some noted. MTSU police were on the scene as well, but for several minutes not even the authorities seemed clear about the situation.
"I have no idea what's going on at this time," said Campus Police Officer Wayne Gentry, who was on the scene.
Marc Cox, a sophomore international relations major, said some present seemed to be enforcing the unofficial evacuation.
"I was going up the steps and an older guy dragged me down and said, 'You gotta leave, there's a gun threat in the building,'" Cox said. "I think he was staff."
Cox said at first he didn't realize the crowd outside was due to any evacuation.
"I was like, 'Wow, everyone's out here all non-chalant.'"
Shortly before 10 a.m. authorities determined there was no threat in the building and waved everyone inside.
However, by noon, English classes in the building had been cancelled for the rest of the day, or relocated to other buildings. Classes for some other departments, including psychology, proceeded as scheduled there.
"We think it could have been a hoax, much like the e-mail we received in August about the false bomb threat," said Buddy Peaster, MTSU chief of police. "It might have been sent out to cause confusion or because it was April 1. It could also turn out to be something 100 percent true."
In a situtation similar to the gunman threat on Tuesday or bomb threat on Friday, Peaster said the most important concern the MTSU community can focus on is safety.
"It helps us as a community not to be controlled by fear," Peaster said. "Instead, we need to stay vigilant about our safety and take proper precautions."
As for the e-mail, Peaster said police have already contacted Yahoo.com in order to trace the e-mail account.
"If it comes down to it, to subpoena data records may take us a little while, but it would be nice to know which machine it came from," Peaster said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Cindy Walton
posted 4/02/08 @ 11:06 PM CST
I don't know about any other parents but I will be glad when my daughter graduates so I don't have to worry every day about her safety. MTSU and all colleges need to take drastic safety measures to make our college campuses safe for our children. (Continued…)
Anon
posted 4/03/08 @ 3:18 AM CST
Incidents will happen. Mass media will immortalize them as tragedies of the week. But, the openness of the university concept must be preserved. If you've got a problem with it then send your kid to liberty or oral roberts where they will be expelled for drinking and/or grow a fervent hatred of you exercising your authority. (Continued…)
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