A scare at Texas A&M University this afternoon after a bus driver called police and reported what he thought was a gunman carrying an AK-47-like weapon.
A&M campus police issued an alert and instructed students to "shelter in place". Uncertainty swirled for about an hour, as police searched for the reported 'gunman'. Adding to the concern was the scheduled ribbon cutting involving Fmr. President Bush Sr., his wife and daughter-in-law.
Turns out the student was a member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets carrying a replica weapon.
Texas A&M Police tell KUT News they are investigating, adding that it's not necessarily against the law to carry a replica weapon on campus.
Police are telling people to return to their normal activities.
Earlier: Students at Texas A&M University have been told to "shelter in place" after reports that someone was spotted carrying a large gun near the college's Rudder Tower. The the Bryan-College Station Eagle reports:
Police said the person was described is a white man with green shorts and a dark-colored T-shirt and a backpack. Officials said the suspect was reported carrying a AK-47-style weapon. Authorities said they have units responding to the area from Bryan and College Station.
As of 4:36, Bryan/College Station TV station KBTX reported police had not found a suspect.
4:36pm No armed subject found at this time. Police are still searching. Continue to shelter in place. Bus pickup to exit campus- GO TO LEWIS ST BEHIND DUNCAN DINING HALL.
Update 4:53 pm: Texas A&M is providing updates on its alert here: http://codemaroon.tamu.edu
Update 5:06 pm: The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports:
Former President George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush and Laura W. Bush were scheduled to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the on-campus George Bush Presidential Library Center at 5 p.m.
Update 5:17 pm: Bryan-College Station CBS affiliate KBTX is live streaming their newscast here. They are also Tweeting updates.
Update 5:33 pm: The Associated Press, citing NBC News, says the entire gunman scare was a misunderstanding.
Update 5:25 pm: KBTX reports it was a bus driver that reported seeing gunman.
A member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets was walking down the street with his rifle about 2 miles from where the Bush family was, NBC said. A campus bus driver was on his route around 4 p.m. when he reported seeing an individual carrying a weapon, possibly a rifle, near a building next to the student union.
Update 5:36 pm: It's over. The whole thing was a misunderstanding. From A&M's Code Maroon website:
All Clear. Person with replica weapon identified. No danger. Resume normal activity. 5:34
