BOSTON — Students were told to shelter in place after two college campuses in Boston went into lockdown Wednesday afternoon following a report of a person with a gun, according to Boston Police.
According to the Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston Police deemed the area safe at approximately 3:20 p.m. and left the scene of both colleges. A BPD spokesperson told Boston 25 that the gun at the center of the investigation was a fake.
A MassArt student told Boston 25 that their friend’s Halloween costume photo shoot prompted the police response.
Mass Art student says friend’s Halloween costume photo shoot inside campus building prompted big police response & shelter in place at Mass Art & Wentworth. Boston Police confirm gun involved was fake #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/yBPxZnEMmQ
— Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredes) October 26, 2022
The Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Wentworth Institute of Technology both sent out RAVE Alerts just after 2:00 p.m., asking everyone on campus to please stay where they are, lock all doors and wait for an ALL-CLEAR message.
A Massachusetts College of Art and Design student barricaded herself inside a dorm with another student while police searched their building.
UPDATE: Boston Police investigated a reported incident at a MassArt building this afternoon and Wentworth issued a shelter-in-place order due to campus proximity. The scene has now been cleared and the shelter-in-place is lifted.
— Wentworth Institute of Technology (@wentworthinst) October 26, 2022
MassArt provided an update shortly after 3:00 p.m., stating that evening classes were cancelled. According to MassArt, a Wentworth student reported that there was an armed individual in the area of the Artist’s Residence building.
“I feel like it’s a relief to know that it wasn’t an active shooter and it was just my friend in a Halloween costume because that’s a lot less scary,” said Kenny Cassidy.
Cassidy told Boston 25 News that they helped clarify the situation to police once they realized the mix-up involving their friend.
“We were like we have to go back and let the police know,” they explained. “I said it was my friend who did it, and yes, it was an accident.”
It’s unclear if the student at the center of the scare could face potential charges or disciplinary action.
“The Boston Police Department conducted a floor to floor search of the building and determined that the suspected weapon was in fact not a real weapon,” said a statement from a MassArt spokesperson. “The College is unable to comment on the individual involved in the incident.”
Boston Latin School, located less than a half mile away, also went into safe mode while police responded to the situation.
Students told to shelter in place at Mass College of Art & Design on Huntington Ave while BPD responds to report of man with gun nearby. Police haven’t found any armed person, no shots fired #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/HiPFdfxyz4
— Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredes) October 26, 2022
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