Lockdown – Armed suspect on Campus

Incident Summary and Follow-up 

Last night (9/29)  a lockdown campus security level was implemented for an incident which posed a significant safety risk for the PLU Community. An armed robbery occurred outside of the Parkland area. The business victimized by the robbery placed a tracking device in the stolen goods. The suspect fled in a vehicle and law enforcement was able to track their location due to this device. While being pursued, the suspect abandoned their vehicle and continued to flee on foot, ultimately being tracked to the campus area.  PLU Campus Safety was notified by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) dispatch that an armed individual was tracked to the area of our Facilities Management building near 123rd Street South and 10th Ave South. PLU Campus Safety immediately initiated a lockdown for the campus after receiving this information. PCSD began a search in the area utilizing a K-9 unit, and the suspect was apprehended. After learning of the suspect’s apprehension from law enforcement, it was deemed there was no longer a threat to the campus and the lockdown was lifted.  

What resources are available to me?

Care is paramount to the values of the university, and we want to recognize that these types of incidents can create increased levels of stress, anxiety, and concern. We are thankful that no one from the PLU community was physically harmed or directly involved in the incident, though many were impacted by the security level activation itself. 

Stressful incidents can have impacts on mental health and wellbeing. If you are in need of mental health support after this incident, or for any other reason, PLU offers a wide variety of resources. Please visit the Counseling Center web page for more information on in person services and our Lute Telehealth on-demand mental health service.

What should I do in a campus security level activation? 

In the event of an emergency, Campus Safety will send a text message, email and phone call to all student and staff cell phones with information on the current campus-related incident. There are three main types of PLU Alerts related to security: Lockdown, Stay in Place, and Community Alerts. Details on each security level can be found in the PLU Emergency Procedures.

For lockdowns specifically, it is important to note that a threat is believed to be on campus, thus after the notification all exterior doors are locked. You should: 

Move to a secure area, if it is safe to do so:

• If you are inside: Move to a secure room such as a classroom or office. Lock or barricade the door, close the window shades, and turn off the lights. Get low on the ground and move to the least visible area of the room.
• If you are outside: Move away from campus as quickly as possible, stay low, and hide behind natural concealment such as foliage, vehicles, and structures. Be aware that all campus buildings will be locked and your LuteCard will not unlock any doors.

For updates, during or after an Alert, always check the PLU Alerts webpage on the Campus Safety website. If you have any questions please contact campussafety@plu.edu

Initial Alert Update: 

An armed and dangerous subject has been reported on campus. Please stay indoors.