S. Ala. campus lockdown lifted after armed robbery
Apr 30, 2012, 2:44 AM
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) – The University of South Alabama on Sunday night lifted a campus lockdown that it had imposed following an armed robbery at a college dorm hours earlier.
University officials announced on their website that campus police had arrested one male suspect and were searching for another in the robbery at gunpoint of a student.
The victim had invited the men to his room when they robbed him of $1,000 and a cell phone and fled, the statement said. A shot was fired but no one was apparently injured.
Officials believe the second robber left campus. Neither suspect apparently attends the school.
The Mobile campus sent out an alert at about 3 p.m. CDT advising students to stay indoors after receiving a report of an armed robbery at the Delta 4 residence hall.
Officials announced at about 8:45 p.m. that the lockdown had been lifted and an arrest had been made.
The school late Sunday urged students to “resume your normal activities but remain cautious and report any suspicious activity.”
The school had used loud speakers, emails and a dial-in phone system to advise students to seek shelter and stay indoors.
“We did in fact do a campus lockdown,” said university spokesman Keith Ayers.
The initial crime alert said “there have been reports of someone on campus armed with a weapon last seen in the housing area.”
The alert went on to advise the university community to “remain inside until further notice.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
The University of South Alabama locked down its campus for several hours Sunday following an armed robbery in a college dormitory, but officials say no one was hurt.
University spokesman Keith Ayers said Sunday evening that the Mobile campus issued a crime alert to students at about 3:30 p.m. CDT.
The school used loud speakers, emails and a dial-in phone system to advise students to seek shelter and stay indoors.
“We did in fact do a campus lockdown,” Ayers said.
Ayers said officials issued the alert after receiving a report that two armed male suspects robbed students in campus housing.
Campus police were “working the case right now,” Ayers said. “It was an armed robbery on campus…No one was hurt.”
Ayers said he’s not aware of any shots having been fired.
As of early Sunday evening, no arrests had been made and the alert remained in effect. Campus police were continuing to investigate.
The school initially posted a crime alert on its website Sunday that said “there have been reports of someone on campus armed with a weapon last seen in the housing area.”
The alert went on to advise the university community to “remain inside until further notice.”
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
