UFPD releases information on hoax call about active shooter at Library West

Press release from University of Florida Police Department

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the Alachua County Combined Communications Center received a call from a man who said he was headed for the University of Florida’s Library West armed with a rifle.

During the call, which has been confirmed to have been a hoax, the person made several threats, including that he was “prepared to die.”

A University of Florida Police Department officer was the first to arrive on scene, shortly followed by a Gainesville Police Department unit. Additional officers from both agencies continued to arrive subsequently.

The Combined Communications Center received an additional call at 8:52 a.m., reporting that a man armed with a rifle was inside Library West. However, it is unclear at this time if it was an additional hoax call or a person who may have spotted a responding officer.

The officers searched Library West to ensure no suspect was hidden. Out of an abundance of caution, officers were deployed also to Marston Science Library to conduct an additional search.

At 9:23 a.m., law enforcement declared the scene secure and announced to the campus that normal operations would resume.

The University of Florida Police Department would like to thank the Gainesville Police Department and the Alachua County Combined Communications Center for their joint response and support.

The University of Florida strongly feels that campus safety is a shared responsibility. Reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement is encouraged by calling 911 or through the Gator Safe app.