DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have given the all clear at the Florida Atlantic University, Broward College and Nova Southeastern University campuses in Davie after a someone carrying a toy gun forced the campuses to be placed on lockdown.
Davie Police responded to the campuses along the 3200 block of College Avenue just after 9 p.m., Thursday.
Police said they were called to investigate a “suspicious incident” at the campus after someone said they saw someone with a rifle at the school.
“A little bit after 9 p.m., we received a call from a female that was a student over at FAU leaving campus for the night,” Davie Police Lt. Mark Leone said. “She said that as she was pulling out of the parking lot, she saw a man standing on the outside of the parking lot, over in the grassy swale area, holding what she believed was a rifle.”
#DaviePolice investigating a suspicious incident at the #Davie FAU campus. Possible W/M with a rifle was seen close to the campus. PIO will meet media at the entrance to Nova HS on College Ave just N of SW 39 St.
— Davie Police Dept. (@DaviePolice) October 4, 2019
School officials initially placed all three campuses on lockdown as a precaution, but the lockdowns have since been lifted.
“She was at the stop sign. She said the man raised the rifle in the air and started walking towards her car,” Leone said. “As he was pointing the rifle towards her car, she sped off and got out of the area there.”
In a 911 call released Friday afternoon, the student could be heard describing what she saw.
“I don’t know if it was a real gun or not, but he kept pointing it at my car,” she said to the 911 operator. “I literally sped off as fast as I could just because I was going out, and he first pointed it up at the sky. He, like, showed it to me — well presented it, rather — and then as I was pulling out, he was, like, pointing it at my car.”
#Update. #DaviePolice have given ALL CLEAR at #Davie college campuses NSU, FAU, & Broward College.
— Davie Police Dept. (@DaviePolice) October 4, 2019
NSU ALERT: NSU Fort Lauderdale- Davie Campus. Emergency Alert All Clear. Repeat: All is Clear. You
may resume normal activities.— Nova Southeastern U. (@NSUFlorida) October 4, 2019
ATTENTION F.A.U: #3: The police activity occurring at the Broward College baseball fields near the Davie campus has ended as of 11:18PM 10/3/19. All Clear
— Florida Atlantic University (@FloridaAtlantic) October 4, 2019
BC ALERT: ALL CLEAR – The situation at Central Campus is all clear.
— Broward College (@BrowardCollege) October 4, 2019
According to an email sent to students, administrators said there was an “emergency situation” at the campuses and that all students “seek shelter in secure locations.”
7News cameras captured K-9 units searching the area for the reported gunman and officers blocking off the entrances to the campuses.
Just before 1 a.m., police said an officer found an individual walking on Stirling Road with a toy gun that matched the description given by the witness. Detectives have since confiscated the toy gun.
Police then questioned and released the subject, who is said to be in his 60s.
After clearing the scene at the #Davie college area. A #DaviePolice officer located an individual with this toy gun walking on Stirling Rd. They both matched the description given by the witness. The toy gun was collected and the investigation was turned over to detectives. pic.twitter.com/mLC8BmUn8L
— Davie Police Dept. (@DaviePolice) October 4, 2019
Cellphone video sent to 7News showed people standing in the parking lot at the Broward College campus minutes before the all clear was given. The woman who sent in the video said she was inside the campus’ library when officers began evacuating the building.
Police said they took the incident seriously because some campuses had night classes and night staff around during the late hours. Officers escorted those who were on campus to their vehicles and off the campus.
No injuries were reported, officials said.
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