University police in manhunt for 'armed and dangerous person on or near campus'

13 September 2023 , 17:02

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Police are at the scene, in images shown on local TV (Image: ABC11)

Police at a university have reported "an Armed and Dangerous Person On or Near Campus" today - just two weeks after an evil shooter murdered a staff member there.

TheUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel (UNC at Chapel Hill) was on lockdown for the second time this semester, over an actual or suspected gunman. Staff and students were told to go inside immediately and shelter in place and to close windows and doors.

An all-clear has now thankfully been issued, with no shots thought to have been fired and no gunman found. The all-clear was declared at 2.13pm today and Chapel Hill Police Department said suspect Mickel Deonte Harris, 27, was arrested. Harris, of Durham, was arrested on Formosa Lane on outstanding warrants related to a previous assault on September 5, but police said he was connected to the lockdown this afternoon at UNC's campus.

He was arrested over 30 minutes after the all-clear was issued, and around two hours after the University was locked down.

Students had said they were hiding in the students' union building during the lockdown. One asks "how is this real life", while another tweeted "this is America".

University shooting sees three killed and gunman dead after hours-long manhunt

An alert posted on an emergency alert page on the University's website earlier read: "Emergency: Police report an Armed and Dangerous Person On or Near Campus. September 13, 2023 - 12:54 pm."

Are you at the uni? Email [email protected]

Police have swarmed the area (ABC11)

And at 1.30pm local time, the latest alert read: "!Alert Carolina! Emergency-Update: Reports of an armed & dangerous person on/near campus. Continue to shelter in place and check alertcarolina.unc.edu for info."

Twitter user @taylorrawlins_ said: "It hasnt even been TWO WEEKS since the last shooting at unc. im locked in the exact same basement i was in on the 28th with the exact same people." [sic]

She shared an image of the text message alert students were sent, warning students "go inside now, avoid windows".

It reads in full: "!Alert Carolina! Emergency: Armed, dangerous person on or near campus. Go inside now; avoid windows."

While Evan Fisher tweeted: "For the second time this semester, sirens are sounding on campus at UNC Chapel Hill for an armed and dangerous person. How is this real life."

While @valeriescull writes: "At UNC chapel hill, hiding in the student Union from our second shooter in three weeks. This is America."

While student Matthew Kessinger tweeted: "Armed and dangerous person reported on UNC campus! All people are asked to shelter in place, avoid windows and doors! Shooting was reported near Alpine Bagels! To be clear, I worked from home today and am safe, but have loved ones and colleagues still on campus."

A discarded shoe is seen at the scene (ABC11)

ABC reporter Tom George tweeted: "Multiple crews responding to UNC campus in Chapel Hill — campus is in lockdown for 2nd time in 3 weeks due to 'armed and dangerous' person on or near campus."

University gunman who killed three students had threatening note in his pocket

Local news site WRAL was told the boyfriend of an employee at an on-campus bagel shop waved a gun around. He was said to have entered the cafe, waved around a gun and left, and is believed to now be off campus.

Students flee the university after 'all clear' is given (ABC)

While other students told ABC that a man ran across the students' union building, walked up to the cashier and said: “Come out and talk to me you know who I am”. The cashier yelled “Who are you” and the gunman aimed the gun at the cashier’s head.

Police gather at the scene (ABC11)

Armed police have been seen at nearby hospital entrances during the lockdown. No shots have been confirmed to have been fired, and police are still hunting for the reported armed person.

Just a couple of weeks ago, on August 28, a graduate student allegedly shot and killed a member of staff at the university, causing a campus lockdown.

@valeriescull tweets

University of North Carolina (UNC) graduate student Tailei Qi, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder after the fatal shooting of his faculty advisor in an attack which caused the campus to be locked down while police searched for the gunman.

Qi is alleged to have shot Zijie Yan inside of a science building on the Chapel Hill campus.

At the time, UNC Police Chief Brian James said: "To actually have the suspect in custody gives us an opportunity to figure out the why and even the how, and also helps us to uncover a motive and really just why this happened today."

Tailei Qi makes his first appearance in court following the fatal shooting of a University of North Carolina staff member (AP)

In a case of bitter irony, an email sent to students and staff today spoke of the fatal shooting on August 28 and said UNC Police would "assess improvements to the university's emergency response" - but it arrived just 2 minutes before another email was sent alerting students and staff to reports of another suspected shooter.

Today, all schools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district have been advised to enter 'secure mode', with classes continuing but doors locked and people not allowed in or out of school buildings until further notice.

Police search the area (WRAL)

Last week, a number of students were kicked out of the North Carolina Legislature while they were advocating for gun reform.

A chapter of gun activist group March for Our Lives located at the university chanted "vote them out" before they were escorted from the chamber.

In response to the latest incident, anti-gun violence group Students Demand Action tweeted: "Less than three weeks after UNC Chapel Hill campus went into lockdown after an active shooter shot and killed a professor, they're sheltering in place again. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OUR NORMAL!"

Joseph Wilkes