World News – Three people were taken into custody Monday afternoon after reports of an armed man on the campus of Central Connecticut State University prompted a schoolwide lockdown, authorities said.
Police were called to the New Britain campus around 12 p.m. after several students called 911 with reports of a man walking around in camouflage while carrying a handgun or “sword-like weapon,” CCSU Police Chief Chris Cervoni said at an afternoon press conference.
University authorities quickly advised students, staff and faculty to shelter in place.
Three people, who were discovered in one of the campus’ residence halls, were peacefully taken into custody around 3 p.m., Cervoni said.
No one was injured in the incident, said university president Dr. Jack Miller.
“From a personal standpoint, I can simply say, our prayers were answered,” Miller said. “Everybody was brave and they were calm, and they behaved the way they were asked to behave.”
Charges had yet to be brought against the three individuals taken into custody, at least one of whom is a CCSU student, Cervoni said. He declined to provide further details about them, though he said they were of “student age.”
He added that authorities were still searching for weapons, and said police were investigating reports that one of the three was clad in a Halloween costume.
No shots were reported fired during the incident, Cervoni said, adding that all three are cooperating with police.
Jordan Governale, a 20-year-old junior from Farmington, said he walked by a man carrying a backpack and with what appeared to be a sword and sheath strapped to his back. The man was wearing a mask, camouflage pants, knee pads and a vest resembling body armor, Governale said.
A minute later he said he saw police responding.
“At first I thought it was a Halloween costume. But after I saw the cops I thought it was some sort of threat,” he said. “It’s pretty scary. It’s pretty strange, unexpected.”
More than 12,000 students attend the university outside Hartford, which has a 182-acre campus.
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