Reports surfaced on social media Tuesday morning that there might be an active shooter on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. Students reacted quickly, seeking safety after hearing about a possible threat near the Student Union. Local law enforcement including university police, Murfreesboro Police, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call.
Campus Police Chief Ed Kaup explained that the chaos was triggered by sounds of whistles and people running. Some students mistook these noises and movements for gunfire or another kind of active threat. He added that passing individuals saw others fleeing a building without knowing anything was planned and panicked. Kaup emphasized that it is better for students to report anything unusual than to ignore potential danger.
Once officers arrived and assessed the situation they determined there was no active threat. The confusion stemmed from a homecoming pep rally event that frightened some students. Kaup said that though people were upset initially many calmed down once they realized the event was organized and harmless.
A junior from Nashville named Malachi Billingslea was in the Student Union getting a calculator when the evacuation order came. He saw around nine police officers guiding people to safety. Billingslea expressed worry that students may be becoming desensitized to threats because some of his friends did not take this incident seriously at first.