CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) experienced a tense few hours on Monday as an "armed and dangerous" individual was reported on or near the campus, prompting a swift response from both university and state officials.

The university's police department issued an "all clear" in the afternoon, several hours after the initial alert. The exact nature of the threat remained unclear, but the rapid response underscored the heightened state of alert on campuses nationwide.

The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. when the university sent out an alert about the presence of an armed individual. Students and staff were advised to shelter in place, and the campus was flooded with law enforcement personnel. Footage from the scene showed a significant police presence, with officers patrolling the area and students being escorted out of buildings with their hands raised.

Adding to the urgency, UNC police released a photo of a "person of interest" at 2:35 p.m., urging anyone who spotted the individual to keep their distance and immediately call 911. The university later announced the cancellation of all classes and events for the day.

 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper weighed in on the situation, referring to the incident as a "shooting" in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety of the UNC community, stating, "This is a tragic way to start a new semester, and the state will provide any assistance necessary to support the UNC community." The governor further pledged all state resources needed to address the situation.

While the UNC Hospital reported no admissions related to the incident, the presence of federal law enforcement on the scene underscored the seriousness with which the threat was taken.

The situation at UNC comes at a time of heightened sensitivity to security issues on educational campuses. While the reasons for the lockdown and the identity of the "armed and dangerous" individual remain under investigation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by institutions of higher learning in ensuring the safety of their students and staff.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, founded in 1789, is one of the oldest public universities in the United States. It boasts a student body of approximately 32,000, complemented by over 4,000 faculty and 9,000 staff members.

As the UNC community grapples with the aftermath of Monday's events, questions about campus security and the broader issue of gun violence in the U.S. are likely to come to the fore. The incident will undoubtedly spark discussions about preparedness, response, and the measures institutions can take to protect their communities in an era of uncertainty.