 |
University of South Florida Police took a suspect into custody yesterday after the campus was locked down. (Associated Press) |
Gunman reported on Fla. campus
TAMPA - The University of South Florida was locked down for several hours yesterday after someone reported a man with a gun and a bomb near the library, and police arrested one suspect.
No one reported shots being fired or injuries. Students were told to return to their normal routine about three hours after police were first notified.
Vincent Thomas-Perry McCoy, 23, a student at the university, was arrested and charged with making a false report. The Tampa Police Department’s bomb squad examined his backpack and determined it was safe, police said.
He had no weapons on him and was cooperative, said Lieutenant Meg Ross of the university police.
McCoy was being held on $7,500 bond. He did not yet have an attorney.
A second person who was reportedly carrying a knife on campus was detained, but police said they believe it was unrelated.
The first call came in at 1:36 p.m. to the Hillsborough County sheriff’s office, which transferred it to campus police.
A siren interrupted classes. An announcement over a loud speaker said there was an intruder and students should stay inside and lock their doors, said Amanda Barnes, an 18-year-old international studies major.
Administrators also sent several text messages to students.
“A lot of people were like, ‘OK. I’m going to go up to my room, and no big deal,’ ’’ Barnes said. She said only a few students seem scared by the anouncement.
Student Hannah Quill told the St. Petersburg Times what she saw and heard.
“It sounded like one of those tornado alarms up north,’’ she said. “Everyone is like in classrooms on lockdown. I saw quite a few police cars heading towards the front of campus.’’
At about 3:30 p.m., police also reported a man wearing a black tank top and cowboy hat, carrying a black puppy and a large hunting knife on campus.
Ross said the man was being questioned, but it didn’t seem related to the earlier report of a man carrying a gun and a bomb.
Ross said the man who was charged stood up on a campus bus and stated that he was the person whom authorities were looking for. Police who responded to the scene and were able to get him off the bus safely.
“As I understand it, he did respond to our commands,’’ she said.
After lifting the lockdown, police advised students to stay away from one section of the campus.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
