UMass Boston Cleared After Reports of Shots Fired

Lead: A massive police response wrestled with reports of gunfire on the UMass Boston campus Thursday afternoon, but no evidence of shots or injuries emerged after an extensive search on Columbia Point.

Nut Graf: Reports of an active shooter prompted UMass Boston, Boston Police and State Police to lock down residence halls and campus buildings from 3:43 p.m. until early evening. The scare disrupted classes and campus activities ahead of the 24th anniversary of 9/11, heightening concerns over false alarms at colleges nationwide.

Campus Lockdown and Response

  • Authorities received multiple 911 calls alleging shots near Residence Hall East and the Campus Center at 3:43 p.m.
  • Boston and State Police, alongside UMass Boston public safety, deployed officers with rifles and a SWAT team to secure the area.
  • Students and staff were directed to shelter in place; the nearby Boston College High School also went into lockdown until 4:50 p.m..

Search and All-Clear

Officers conducted a building-by-building sweep of dorms and academic facilities, employing K-9 units and aerial drones. By 6:50 p.m., investigators concluded no gunfire had occurred; no weapons, shell casings or injuries were reported. Campus operations resumed as normal Friday morning.

Impact and Student Reactions

Several students described chaotic scenes of classmates fleeing classrooms and hiding in secured rooms. Freshman Kennedi Williams said, “My teacher ended class as soon as the lockdown alert flashed,” while junior Tara O’Reilly watched cop cars and helicopters flood the campus from her Harbor Point apartment. Many expressed frustration over insufficient security measures and lingering anxiety despite the false alarm.

Broader Context of False Alerts

Similar swatting and non-credible shooting threats disrupted other U.S. campuses on Thursday, underscoring the challenge universities face in verifying emergent threats without triggering mass panic. UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco thanked the campus community for its “patience, cooperation and resilience” during the incident.