Lockdown – Armed Subject on Campus

Updates

• Sep 21, 2022 @ 3:10pm - Clarification to initial incident type

  Campus Safety received additional information that the incident began with a hit and run vehicle collision between two private parties. The suspect in the collision was seen by witnesses fleeing the scene of the collision near Park Ave towards the wooded area south of the AUC. Those witnesses reported that the suspect had a gun. State Patrol is on scene at the site of the collision. We are awaiting for updated information from Law Enforcement. Campus is to remain in lockdown at this time.

• Sep 21, 2022 @ 4:08pm - Transition to Modified Lockdown

  Campus is transitioning to a modified lockdown. Remain inside your building and do not open exterior doors. You may move about inside of your building. There is still an ongoing response on campus.

• Sep 21, 2022 @ 4:43pm - Modified Lockdown Continues Police activity outside AUC

  Police are actively clearing the wooded area south of the AUC. As an extra precaution, if you are in the AUC please stay away from the south entrances and windows. www.plu.edu/plualert

• Sep 21, 2022 @ 4:58pm - All Clear - Lockdown Has Ended

  Pierce County Sheriff's Deputies and Washington State Patrol Troopers have cleared the outdoor areas near the incident and have deemed that there is no longer a threat to campus. Please resume normal operations. Updated details regarding this incident will be posted on this page.

• Sep 21, 2022 @ 5:30pm - Incident Follow Up Information

  Dear PLU Community,
  
  This afternoon, PLU Campus Safety received multiple eyewitness reports about an individual entering campus after fleeing a traffic incident near campus. One witness reported that this individual was armed, and the PLU campus immediately went into lockdown out of an abundance of caution.
  
  The lockdown began at 2:54 p.m. After Campus Safety reviewed the surveillance video and confirmed that the suspect had not entered any buildings, the lockdown was updated to a modified lockdown at 4:10 p.m., which allowed occupants to move around buildings.
  
  We are thankful to the Washington State Patrol and Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, who responded to and evaluated the situation, had officers clear the area, and eventually concluded that the individual in question was no longer on the premises.
  
  Thank you also to our PLU community members, who quickly shared information about this incident, and to all of you for your patience in lockdown while the situation was resolved. Please remember that the Campus Safety office is staffed 24/7/365 and is always available to respond to calls and concerns.
  
  For general assistance, you can reach us at (253) 535-7441.
  For emergencies, you can reach us at (253) 535-7911.
  
  For updates, during or after an alert, check this PLU Alerts webpage.
  
  Thank you for helping to keep PLU safe,
  
  José Curiel Morelos
  Director
  Campus Safety