UC Berkeley locked down for about an hour on Tuesday afternoon after reports of an armed man near the Haas School of Business sent police scrambling to search campus buildings.
The University of California, Berkeley Police Department sent out a critical alert just before 3:30 p.m. on July 7, telling anyone inside the Haas School of Business, Cheit Hall, or Chou Hall to shelter in place immediately. People outside the area were told to stay away until further notice.
According to campus officials, several people had reported seeing an armed man near Haas, which sits on the east side of campus close to Memorial Stadium, around 3 p.m. Officers moved quickly to search the business school and the surrounding buildings.
What happened during the search
Police combed through the Haas School of Business, along with Cheit Hall and Chou Hall, for roughly an hour. During that time:
- Students and staff inside the buildings were told to secure in place and stay away from windows and doors
- People elsewhere on campus were urged to avoid the area entirely
- Officers monitored the situation and worked to locate anyone matching the reported description
- No details were released about the type of weapon the man was said to be carrying
By about 4 p.m., UC Berkeley police issued a follow-up alert announcing the all clear. Officers said they were not able to find anyone matching the description in the area and determined the buildings were safe to reoccupy.
No suspect found, investigation continues
Despite the multiple reports of an armed man, campus police confirmed no individual was located during the search. University spokespeople did not release further information about the nature of the alleged threat or whether the report could be verified.
Officials asked anyone who noticed suspicious activity near campus to contact university police directly at 510-642-6760.
News crews from local Bay Area outlets rushed to the scene once word of the lockdown spread, though by the time cameras arrived, the situation had already been cleared, and normal activity had resumed around the business school.
This is not the first tense moment on the Berkeley campus this year. Just months earlier, the body of a man was discovered on campus, though officials said at the time there was no indication of foul play and the person did not appear to be affiliated with the university.
For now, UC Berkeley police say the campus is safe, but the circumstances behind Tuesday’s report remain unclear as the investigation continues.
