Bates College locks down after reported gunman, later revealed to be a false alarm

Local police said no weapon was confirmed, and the person may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.

A reported gunman in Lewiston, Maine, prompted lockdowns at Bates College, local schools, and a hospital on Thursday, though officials later said the threat was unfounded.

A shelter-in-place order was lifted after Lewiston police were unable to locate a man they initially believed was armed near campus, according to The Boston Globe.

The alert was issued after a caller reported seeing a man, who was described as white and in his mid-30s, who appeared to be carrying a gun. Police responded to the area around 3 p.m. as local students and school and hospital staff were urged to stay indoors while officers searched.

Lewiston police said the man had fled family members at St. Mary’s Hospital.

“Due to the hospital’s proximity to Lewiston Middle School, the Lewiston Public Schools Superintendent was notified and made the decision to place the school in lockdown for students attending after-school activities,” police said in a social media post. “Bates College and other organizations in the area also chose to initiate lockdown procedures out of an abundance of caution.”

Lewiston Public Schools Superintendent Jake Langlais addressed the incident in a message to the community.

“We received word this afternoon that law enforcement is currently looking for an individual that may pose a threat to themselves or others,” Langlais said, according to WGME. “Out of precaution we are locking down our campuses and events/sending students home if appropriate. We have not had an incident. This is a precaution. We will share updates as soon as we are able to. Remember: Avoid, Deny, Defend. Get to a safe place. We will message further.”

WMTW reported that family members told officials he didn’t have a firearm. Police said they were unable to find the man or confirm the presence of a weapon. His identity has not been released, and it’s unclear if officers have made contact with him.

After a sweep of the area and no additional sightings, police determined there was no immediate threat and lifted the shelter-in-place order.

“We would like to thank our local schools and community members for their cooperation during this incident,” police said.