Va. Tech lifts campus alert after report of gunman

By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON
Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, VA (AP) — Virginia Tech officials have lifted a campus-wide alert that was issued after three children attending a summer camp reported a man holding what looked like a gun near a dining hall.

An e-mail from the university Thursday afternoon says “the university community may resume normal campus activity.” Police had swarmed the campus after interviewing the children, who officials said were attending a summer camp for middle schoolers.

The email says there will be a heavy police presence on the campus throughout the day.

The university had posted alerts on its website and official twitter account warning students and staff to stay indoors. The school also sounded its emergency alarms and sent the alert by voicemail, text message and email.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)