Reports of Gunman at Middle Tennessee State University

Monday, March 23

5:30 p.m. A man was seen running into the KUC on campus and reportedly had a gun. Officials are advising people in the KUC to evacuate or to stay in place.

5:32: The man is said to be a black male, about 5'8" and 175 lbs. He has dark hair, is college age, is wearing a gray shirt, blue jeans, and is heavily tattooed. He is driving a dark-colored Chevy Impala with Tennessee Tags and MAY live in the Nottingham Apartments adjacent to campus on Greenland Drive.

6:12: At this point, MTSU and Murfreesboro City Police are still searching the KUC building, which is closed. Just to make it very clear, while it was reported that the man had a gun in his possession, no gunshots have been heard on campus and there are no injuries.

Police have reopened the Keathley University Center at MTSU. The building was ecavuated after reports that a man with a gun was seen entering the buidling.

6:22: Police report that the KUC building has been cleared and people may enter it. The suspect has not been apprehended, and police are advising that everyone proceed with caution. Please report any suspicious person or behavior by calling 898-2424.

Authorities at Middle Tennessee State University searched a building on campus for a man believed to be carrying a weapon, but he was not found.

“As far as we know from the information from witnesses available at the scene, we do not have any reason to believe he is an immediate threat to any person, place or thing,” said Buddy Peaster, chief of MTSU police.

Peaster explained what happened:

“We got a call to a fight (within the hour before) at Corlew dorm."

“One of the persons (in the fight) ran from that spot and toward the KUC. A witness at the scene had information that the person who ran in KUC had a weapon with him."

“It has not been confirmed that he had a gun. I’m not sure whether the eyewitness saw the weapon or not."