Campus Emergency at Central Conn. State University

NEW JERSEY 101.5

One suspect is in custody and the all clear sounded at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain after the school was put on lockdown for a possible masked man seen walking on campus with a gun or knife according to NBC Connecticut that may have simply been someone wearing a Halloween costume.

LATEST:

4:16 p.m. - Police Chief Mike Cervani said one person had a sword and handgun. The incident happened on the 4th floor; it was not a hostage situation.

4:11 p.m. - The incident is characterized as being an isolated one. No shots fired. Campus Police Chief Mike Cervani would not say if they are students or what charges, if any, have been brought. Police say cameras  and swipe cards helped locate suspects.

4:08 p.m. - Police say there are "three people of interest" in custody and said they are "of student age." There was no struggle upon their being taken into custody. They would not elaborate on whether or not it was simply someone wearing a Halloween costume. No threat prompted the lockdown but multiple phone calls to campus police.

4:04 p..m - At a press conference, CCSU President Jack Miller confirms that no students were injured in the incident.

3:17 p.m. - CCSU has sounded an alarm on campus and tweeted the all clear on campus. Students are free to leave buildings.

3:09 p.m. - Lockdown has ended for New Britain schools. CCSU is still in safe shelter mode.

3:05 p.m. - Police will hold a press conference at 4 p.m.

3:00 p.m. - New Britain Mayor Tim O'Neill confirms "the" suspect in custody but would not offer any answer questions about when the suspect was taken into custody.

2:55 p.m. : NBC Connecticut reports that the situation has been declared to be under control. The school says the campus is still in shelter mode.

2:46 p.m. - WFSB TV reports that three people are in police custody. NBC Connecticut has video of a second suspect with police.

2:45 p.m. - The CCSU website has returned to normal with message about sheltering-in-place. It had gone blank except for that message.

2:40 p.m. -  A picture on Twitter claims to show police escorting a man dressed in camouflage and an orange shirt being escorted by police.

2:17 p.m. - A former student tells NBC Connecticut that entrants into James Hall must use a key card and check in at a desk in a lobby on the building's lower level. 450 students live in the dorm.

2:02 p.m. - University spokesman Mark McLaughlin told the Hartford Courant that the campus-wide alert was put in place when someone reported seeing an armed man on campus, outside James Hall shortly before noon.  McLaughlin heard that the man had a gun and a sword, but that information is not confirmed, he said. There’s been no report of an active
shooter, no reports of injuries and no report of any hostages according to McLaughlin.

1:51 p.m. - Students from James Hall are being allowed to leave the building.

1:42 p.m. - The Hartford Cournat reports State Police have a man "boxed" into a dorm room inside James Hall.

Mayor O'Brien reports there have been no injuries so far.

1:40 p.m. - A witness tells NBC Connecticut says that students have been told to put their phones on silence

1:36 p.m. - A new tweet from CCSU says a search is going on in the James Hall area of campus.

1:31 p.m. - New Britain Mayor Tim O'Brien did not offer much information except to say that police are handling the situation and instructing students to follow instructions. He would not answer specific questions about injuries, a possible hostage situation or any shots being fired.

1:14 p.m. - CCSU administrators continue to tweet out messages to students to stay in lockdown mode.

1:13 p.m. -  Two nearby schools in New Britain are on lockdown as well.

Several students have told the station about seeing a man in black walking around campus wearing body armor, goggles, a backpack and sword near James Hall on the campus.

Campus Police, however, tell the station this is not an active shooter situation. No shots have been heard being fired. A state police tactical team is on the way.

A message on the school's website, which has been cleared of all pictures and other text, urges all on campus to get inside buildings and stay away from windows. The message says police are on the scene. A similar message is posted on the college's Facebook page.

University spokesman Mark McLaughlin confirmed an emergency on campus to CBS New York but would not elaborate on its nature.

10,000 students attend classes at the campus located just to the southwest of Hartford along Interstate 84.

MORE COVERAGE:

• CCSU Issues Campus Alert to Seek Shelter / NBC Connecticut
• 'Campus emergency' reported at CCSU in New Britain / WFSB TV, Hartford
• Campus Emergency At Central Connecticut State University / Hartford Courant

This is a breaking story. Check back for additional details.