PLYMOUTH – Reports of a gunman walking across campus put Plymouth State University and the nearby Holderness School in a lockdown last night.
By 9:43 p.m., the lockdown was lifted after officials located and talked to the individual, who was not a student, and learned he was carrying a martial arts device that resembled a gun.
Bruce Lyndes, media relations manager for Plymouth State, said several students had reported seeing a man acting "incoherently" walking from the north end of campus to the south around 5:45 p.m. Lyndes said more than one student reported seeing what appeared to be the butt of a handgun sticking out from one of the man's pants pockets.
The university sent out a text alert to students and faculty at 6:48 p.m., warning that a gunman may be on the campus and advising people to stay inside. Officers from Plymouth, New Hampshire State Police and Grafton County Sheriff's Department joined PSU security to comb the campus.
Several downtown businesses usually open at that time of night were reportedly closed.
"Better to be safe than sorry," said Dick Hage, vice president of student affairs. "The information that came through came from multiple students. It wasn't a single student."
Monday, 08 March 2010 15:34 | 
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