Apr 18, 2007 6:54 am US/Mountain
SWAT Team Called To Virginia Tech
Threat Of Suspicious Activity Is Unfounded
BLACKSBURG, Va. (CBS) ―
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The SWAT team was called onto the Virginia Tech campus just two days after Norris Hall, pictured, was closed after a massive shooting. (File)
AP
Virginia Tech students still on edge after the deadliest shooting in U.S. history got another scare Wednesday morning as police in SWAT gear with weapons drawn swarmed Burruss Hall, which houses the president's office.
The threat of suspicious activity turned out to be unfounded, said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said, and the building was reopened. But students were rattled.
"They were just screaming, 'Get off the sidewalks,"' said Terryn Wingler-Petty, a junior from Wisconsin. "They seemed very confused about what was going on. They were just trying to get people organized."
One officer was seen escorting a crying young woman out, telling her, "It's OK. It's OK."
The alert came two days after a Virginia Tech student killed at least 30 people locked inside a classroom building in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history.
Authorities evacuated buildings Tuesday at two universities after bomb threats there.
St. Edward's University in Austin was shut down after a threatening note was found, a school official said. Police later reported that no explosive devices were found.
Meanwhile in Florida, Hollywood Hills High School and the adjacent Stirling Elementary School were locked down late Tuesday morning as police checked out reports of a teen that may have threatened suicide.
Several students reportedly told administration officials at the high school that one of their classmates had said he had a gun and was going to commit suicide after school.
School officials called police who locked down both buildings and searched every room for the student who allegedly had the gun. He was eventually found at his home in Davie. The lock down has been lifted, and police are talking with the student that had allegedly threatened suicide.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Special Coverage: Massacre At Virginia Tech
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