Collegiate Times

Composite sketch released by VT Police

According to VT police chief Wendell Flinchum, they have not encountered anyone else matching the composite sketch or description.  

Lacking any further information, the university had to lift the alert, according to Larry Hincker, Tech spokesman.  

The university will continue to have a large police presence on campus, patrolling via marked and unmarked vehicles and walking through buildings. 

The three girls who reported the sighting were approximately 14 years old and attendees of Higher Achievement camp based out of Washington D.C., according to Flinchum.   

All three females reported this sighting together, but did not describe threats of any kind made by the suspect.  

“I think the girls believed what they reported,” Flinchum said.

He also stated that the officers believed their claim based on the detailed information they provided.  

The females reported this sighting to an instructor within the camp who then contacted VT Police.  

According to Hincker, the university acted with “an abundance of caution.”

Alert systems “worked without a hitch” to approximately 45,000 subscribers, Hincker said.  

“Tomorrow we expect to resume normal campus operations,” Hincker said.  

UPDATED 3:52 p.m.

The VT Alert has been lifted, but there will still be a large police presence on campus today.  Police did not receive any additional information about a person possibly carrying a gun.  Normal campus activities will resume, but Blacksburg campus classes are still canceled for the day. 

UPDATED 2:45 p.m.

The Blacksburg Transit will not be operating on the VT campus.

The following detours are in effect:

CRC/Hospital Shuttle will continue to operate through the CRC, to the Hospital and to the Fairfax Street area.  Passengers may transfer to the Main Street route at Fairfax.

Hethwood / Harding will continue to operate.  From Hethwood, route will remain on Prices Fork, right onto Main Street and resume route to Harding.  Route will operate in reverse from Harding to Hethwood.  Connections to the Main Street and Two Town Trolley route can be made at the Downtown stops near the Post Office.

Main Street will not enter Alumni Mall, the route will remain on Main Street.  Transfers to other routes can be made at the downtown stops near the Post Office.

Toms Creek will remain on Prices Fork, left onto Main Street and resume route.  Courtesy stops will be made on Prices Fork between West Campus and Toms Creek.

Two Town Trolley will not enter Alumni Mall, the route will remain on Main Street, turn left onto Progress Street, right onto Broce Drive and right back onto Main Street to resume normal route. 

For more information, contact the BT at 540-961-1185.

UPDATED 2:11 p.m.

VT Alert update at 1 p.m.

"Campus alert remains in effect.  We recommend that students, employees, and others on campus remain secured indoors.  Classes are cancelled for remainder of the day.  Students are asked not to come to campus.

The university understands that it has been several hours since this began.  Many officers from many police departments continue to search campus buildings. We have a very large campus and this will be a long process. There have been no further sightings or reports.

UPDATED 1:13 p.m.

VT Police released a compositie sketch based on reports.

UPDATED 1:05 p.m.

A man with a gun was reported near Dietrick and New Residence Hall East at 9:37 a.m. Although the suspect's physical description was released, he has not been located. 

Since that time, students have been updated many times via VT Alerts, and a press conference was held in front of Burruss Hall. Emergency personnel are responding, but all individuals have been asked to stay inside and secure doors, according to VT Alerts.

Updates are below and can also be found on Twitter: @CollegiateTimes. 

UPDATED 12:05 p.m.

Police are still investigating campus. There have been no additional sightings, but people are still asked to remain indoors, according to the most recent VT Alert. 

UPDATED 11:44 a.m. 

Claims made by the three students attending a higher achievement camp, appear credible, according to Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum.

Individuals have been stopped and questioned on campus, but no one is in custody.   

Summer staff now has access to its office. 

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A version of this article appeared in the Aug 5 issue of the Collegiate Times.