Students have been alerted to evacuate the library at the University of Central Florida in Orlando following reports of a “Middle Eastern” man or woman with a gun in the building.
*UCF ALERT**UCF ALERT* POSSIBLE MIDDLE EASTERN GUN MAN/WOMAN IN UCF MAIN CAMPUS LIBRARY. AVOID THE AREA! – #UCF
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
All students are being instructed to exit the library #UCF pic.twitter.com/v1WzhB4Tf6
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
Breaking: Possible middle eastern gunman/woman in #UCF library, according to UCF campus alert. Avoid the area.
— UCF News (@UCFnews) April 26, 2016
For followers around the #UCF area. Please stay safe and pay attention to your alerts. Hopefully this gets resolved soon.
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 26, 2016
Police reportedly have the library surrounded.
UCFPD are seen walking in the John C. Hitt library with assault rifles, building surrounded #UCF pic.twitter.com/kvyGEd8Fzz
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
Helicopters are making their way over to the John C. Hitt Library after a suspected gunman entered the building #UCF pic.twitter.com/XTC3Gvit8n
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
#BREAKING #UCF Police responding to library for possible person with a gun. This is the alert sent out. #FOX35 https://t.co/3NpWjMBJre
— Tom Johnson (@Used2BThatTVGuy) April 26, 2016
Just evacuated from the library. Apparently there's someone with a weapon #UCF pic.twitter.com/TuoDZxIQe2
— Mom of 4 in O-town (@AsmaaBintLibya) April 26, 2016
Man I don't have time for this! We all preparing for finals and all stressed out…this just making it worse! #ucf
— Ivory (@IM_Amos) April 26, 2016
A girl with a hijab had a gun at the library. Hope everyone is safe #ucf
— chris (@KhrisKil) April 26, 2016
Whatever is going on, it's an odd alert from #UCF, what does ethnicity have to do with it? pic.twitter.com/d9ct0ogYY6
— Amanda Sumner (@AmsSumner) April 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/IAmMelissaGeee/status/725051981962825728
* * *
Police still investigating possible gunman at the library. More information to follow. Please avoid the library. #UCF #UCFPD
— UCF Police Dept. (@UCFPolice) April 26, 2016
#UCF spokesman Grant Heston said campus library is evacuated. Police are investigating a possible gun brought into library. @orlandosentinel
— Gabrielle Russon (@GabrielleRusson) April 26, 2016
UCF police with apparent assault rifles clearing students from library area. @foxnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/WhNXxNNCJ3
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
"Don't worry about your stuff, get out of the building now" – UCFPD responders armed w/ assault rifles on 4th floor pic.twitter.com/0cJsjgdNrr
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/KFoleyFL/status/725057945592041472
* * *
UCF police say that the alert was issued in response to social media posts spreading word of “someone who appeared to be holding a gun in their hands and praying” being spotted in the building.
**UCF Alert** Social media posts lead to library lockdown. It remains in effect. Other operations normal. #UCF #UCFPD
— UCF Police Dept. (@UCFPolice) April 26, 2016
UCF alert might've been cause of a social media hoax. UCFPD taking necessary precautions as helicopters hover the area. #UCF
— Jarleene Almenas (@JarleeneAlmenas) April 26, 2016
#UCF Police confirm the suspect is a woman and no injuries or gunshots have been reported https://t.co/E1S33gp02i pic.twitter.com/EwTp5hVEls
— UCF News (@UCFnews) April 26, 2016
#UCF Student Paper: Police confirm the suspect is a woman. There are no reported injuries or gunshots. — via @UCFnews
— Diedra Rodriguez (@deerodriguez) April 26, 2016
Remember folks- the #UCF police response is reaction to a social media rumor. NO threat has been confirmed. pic.twitter.com/VREgrtJyNV
— Al Tompkins (@atompkins) April 26, 2016
Message from UCFPD Chief Richard Beary. pic.twitter.com/dURMrZD0Kn
— UCF Police Dept. (@UCFPolice) April 26, 2016
* * *
Update from @UCFPolice about the report of a woman seen with a gun in the #UCF library: pic.twitter.com/9L7HtePD0f
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) April 26, 2016
* * *
**UCF Alert** Library cleared, no threat found. Call 911 to report suspicious activity. Campus operations normal. – #UCF
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
Several UCFPD officers calmly exit the John C. Hitt Library, no updates on situation #UCF pic.twitter.com/NjWeKDHlzy
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
All clear at the #UCF Library. A message from #UCFPD Chief Richard Beary. pic.twitter.com/3SVu5cClep
— UCF Police Dept. (@UCFPolice) April 26, 2016
BREAKING: #UCF library CLEARED by police. People on scene reported hearing loud "pop." No word on what that was. #FOX35
— Sonni Abatta (@SonniAbatta) April 26, 2016
There was a gunshot just now on #UCF campus. I'm told it was an accidental discharge. #WFTV
— Kimberly Eiten (@KimberlyEiten) April 26, 2016
An “accidental discharge”? That doesn’t sound good, particularly if reports of a woman with a gun turn out to be unfounded.
Deputy Chief Brett Meade said the "bang" was an accidental discharge.
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) April 26, 2016
@UCFKnightNews someone's gonna hear about that later…
— Bobby (@C0TT0N_McKnight) April 26, 2016
UPDATE: No threat found after #UCF police investigate report of gunwoman in library https://t.co/yKCj2vVlJD pic.twitter.com/9xz2gxmgXc
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) April 26, 2016
No threat found after gunwoman reported at #UCF library. Police still investigating claim, scene cleared https://t.co/E1S33gp02i
— UCF News (@UCFnews) April 26, 2016
Supposed gun woman at #UCF was actually a woman praying, according to several students. https://t.co/u6IOnmjKvR
— COED (@COED) April 26, 2016
Sending special thoughts and prayers to the hijabis at #UCF
— Leah McElrath ?️? (@leahmcelrath) April 26, 2016
If someone practicing their religion scares you, #UCF is not the school for you.
— K. (@VivaLaKiala) April 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/WowKoolJonathan/status/725069653383516163
* * *
So there was no Middle Eastern woman with a gun, but there was one confirmed gunshot.
Transparency alert: #UCF officer's weapon accidentally discharged as it was being secured in car. Nobody hurt. We will review. #UCFPD
— UCF Police Dept. (@UCFPolice) April 26, 2016
Twitchy will continue to update this breaking news story as details become available.