Dear Danforth Campus students, faculty and staff,

Earlier this morning, the WashU Police Department received multiple calls reporting an individual with a weapon on the Danforth Campus. Out of an abundance of caution, a WashU Alert notification was sent and officers immediately responded and conducted a search of campus buildings.

After a thorough search, no armed individual was located. At this time, there is no active threat to campus, and we believe the reports were not a credible threat. It’s important to note that we take false reports like this very seriously and will investigate and pursue charges against anyone who is found to be responsible.

I’d like to thank our students, faculty and staff for responding quickly and appropriately to the alert by sheltering in place and following instructions as they were communicated through WashU Alerts and officers on the scene. Your cooperation made it possible for our officers to do their work quickly and safely.

We know situations like this are unsettling. They also remind us of the importance of being prepared for an emergency. In the event of an active threat, remember the principles of Run, Hide, Fight:

  • Run, if you can do so safely.
  • Hide, if escape is not possible. Lock or barricade doors, silence devices and remain out of sight.
  • Fight, only as a last resort to protect yourself or others.

We encourage you to review our active threat resources on the WashU Emergency website. Taking a few minutes to familiarize yourself with this guidance can make a critical difference in an actual emergency.

This was likely a stressful event for many of you. If you need support, please consider utilizing the resources that are available to you. Students may contact the Student Health Center or utilize TimelyCare for 24/7 access to support. Employees have access to WashU’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), GuidanceResources, which provides confidential counseling and other resources to help manage stress and emotional well-being.

Thank you again for your vigilance and cooperation. We all play a part in keeping our campus safe. If you ever see something that concerns you, please contact WashU PD at 314-935-5555, or call 911. Remember, emergency.washu.edu will always be your best source of current information in the event of an emergency.
 
Sincerely,
Chief Angela Coonce
WashU Police Department