CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A tense situation unfolded on Monday at the University of North Carolina’s flagship campus as reports of an apparent shooting prompted students and faculty to take refuge in dorm rooms, offices, and classrooms for several hours until the lockdown was eventually lifted.
The incident began when the university issued an urgent alert to its community, advising them to seek shelter indoors and avoid windows. The message, delivered through the university’s communication channels, sparked anxiety and uncertainty among those on campus.
Approximately three hours later, the university shared the relieving message on X (formerly known as Twitter), “All clear. All clear. Resume normal activities.” However, the university did not disclose whether anyone had been injured or arrested in connection with the incident. It also did not immediately respond to requests for further information.
While both university officials and local law enforcement remained tight-lipped about the details surrounding the alleged shooting, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper took to X to announce that he had conferred with the Orange County sheriff and the state’s public safety secretary. Cooper pledged full state support to apprehend the shooter and secure the UNC campus.
Cooper’s office opted not to disclose additional information, deferring to local authorities for updates. University officials similarly pledged to share verified information with the public as soon as it became available.
The initial alert was sent out just after 1 p.m., and at 1:50 p.m., the university issued another update confirming that the shelter-in-place order was still in effect, characterizing the situation as “ongoing.” Approximately 40 minutes later, a subsequent message reiterated, “Remain sheltered in place. This is an ongoing situation. Suspect at large.”
Two hours following the first alert, a sizable law enforcement presence was observed, with around 50 police vehicles converging on the scene, complemented by multiple helicopters circling overhead.
In the midst of the chaos, a law enforcement officer firmly directed two individuals attempting to exit the student center, urgently instructing them to return indoors. Approximately ten minutes later, another group of students was seen being escorted out of one of the science buildings, their hands raised in an orderly manner.
Shortly before 4 p.m., there was a noticeable change as students and faculty began emerging from campus buildings, signaling the end of the lockdown.
This incident, marked by the report of a shooting and subsequent campus-wide lockdown, created a tense atmosphere on campus and throughout the town of Chapel Hill. It occurred a mere week after the commencement of classes at North Carolina’s flagship public university, which hosts approximately 20,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 graduate students.
During the lockdown, students recounted their experiences, with one describing how she had barricaded her dormitory door with furniture for safety. Another student, speaking softly, recounted the fear and anxiety shared by her fellow students as they huddled together in a dark bathroom, seeking refuge from the uncertainty.
Noel T. Brewer, a professor of health behavior, who was on campus during the lockdown, noted that even though he had been held at gunpoint before in his mother’s jewelry store, the events of Monday were “far more stressful.” He expressed the challenges of obtaining information during such an uncertain and rapidly evolving situation, acknowledging the anxiety felt by students in lockdown and empathizing with anyone potentially affected by the incident.
UNC Medical Center remained open for patients despite being on lockdown as a precautionary measure. However, it had not received any patients related to the campus incident at the time, according to Alan Wolf, a spokesperson for UNC Health. Outpatient clinics, on the other hand, were closed for the day.
Additionally, the nearby Chapel Hill-Carrboro City school district chose to lock down its schools for several hours as a precautionary measure in response to the situation on the UNC campus.