LSUPD Has Determined There Was No Threat At Coates Hall: Report

BATON ROUGE, NO — The LSU Police Department has investigated the report of an armed subject at Coates Hall on campus, and determined there was no threat, according to the school's twitter account.

The college is returning to normal operations.

Update: LSUPD has investigated the report of an armed subject at Coates Hall and has determined there was no threat. LSU is returning to normal operations.
— LSU (@LSU) August 20, 2019

A report went out around 3 p.m (EST) Tuesday, Aug. 26 of an armed intruder at the Louisiana State University's Coates Hall, the school said via Twitter. Campus police and officials advised students to run, hide or fight.

LSUPD: Reported armed intruder in Coates Hall. Run, Hide or Fight. LSUPD on scene. Monitor https://t.co/ZpdXns8r3I for further information.
— LSU (@LSU) August 20, 2019

Reporter Sydney Kern tweeted out a photo showing a large police presence at Coates Hall.

Large police presence outside of Coates Hall. LSU sent out an alert that there’s an armed intruder in the building. This was about 20 minutes ago. At this time there’s no reports of anyone injured @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/FGpSgLX7JB
— Sydney Kern (@sydneykern) August 20, 2019

LSU then tweeted out the situation was still ongoing. No shots had been fired, and no injuries occurred.

Professor Edward Gibbons, who was in the building when the situation was unfolding, spoke with reporters about the sequence of events.

"The TA said one of the cleaning staff saw someone with a pistol. So we locked the office doors. I locked all of our doors, and just started watching the news," said Gibbons.

LSU professor says a TA told him one of the cleaning staff saw someone with a pistol. Also says he doesn't believe police found anyone with a gun. Strange to see a professor giving an interview like this before police or university administrators speak on the situation. https://t.co/bepPOlpwtQ
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) August 20, 2019

At 5:37 (EST) the school informed the public all other areas of campus may return to normal operations, but to "shelter in place," if you're in the Quad area.

Update: LSUPD is still investigating. If in the Quad area, shelter in place. All other areas may return to normal operations.
— LSU (@LSU) August 20, 2019

LSUPD concluded the situation at 5:53 by announcing "there was no threat" of an armed subject at Coates Hall.

Update: LSUPD has investigated the report of an armed subject at Coates Hall and has determined there was no threat. LSU is returning to normal operations.
— LSU (@LSU) August 20, 2019

Classes are not currently back in session for the fall term, but many students have already returned to campus from summer break.