Aggie Campus Gunman a Hoax

Campus put on alert until police check out bogus call.

A phone call to Texas A&M University police reporting a gunman on the third floor of a campus building was a hoax, authorities said Friday.

Texas A&M issued a warning of a "report of a man with gun" in the Bright Building, but within 45 minutes rescinded the emergency alert.

The message was issued via e-mail and text message to A&M students and staff around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

The text said, quote: "A report of man with gun in HR Bright Building near Chem (chemistry building), police searching. Seek shelter, avoid area."

A subsequent advisory, just before 6:15 p.m. Friday, said the two buildings had been "checked and cleared, no man with gun. Sheltering can end."

"We came to the conclusion that it was a hoax, a bogus call," university spokesman Lane Stephenson told The Associated Press.

Stephenson said the call was made from an emergency phone located near the building.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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