WEST LONG BRANCH – The reported armed subject at Monmouth University had a curling iron that was mistaken for a weapon, university officials said, adding that the university will have a delayed opening Thursday because of the “impact” from the incident.
A “shelter in place” order issued Wednesday around 9:15 p.m. at Monmouth University was lifted Thursday at 1:40 a.m., after police gave the “all clear,” according to an email from University President Patrick F. Leahy to the university community.
“In acknowledgment of the impact of this situation on the community, the University will have a delayed opening for offices at noon on Thursday,” Leahy said in his email. “Classes with start times at-or-after 12 noon will meet as scheduled.”
On Wednesday at 9:15 p.m., Monmouth University Police received a call with a report of a person with a possible weapon and shots fired on campus in the Magill Commons area, Leahy said. The reports were discovered to be unfounded.
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Police were dispatched to the area and the campus was alerted to “shelter in place,” Leahy said, as law enforcement searched and secured the campus.
Detectives used video footage and other technology based on the description provided and identified a currently enrolled student as the person of interest, according to Leahy. After interviewing the student, police found that the student had a curling iron that had been mistaken for a weapon.
“Please be advised that the Monmouth University campus has been deemed safe,” the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement just before 3 a.m. on Thursday. “Based upon the diligent efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, the initial information regarding an armed subject on campus and shots having been fired was unfounded.”
Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; [email protected]
