UNC lockdown updates: Horror as armed person waves gun at Chapel Hill bagel shop weeks after campus shooting
All-clear issued about an hour after initial alert caused by man waving gun near bagel shop
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The University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus was put on lockdown for the second time in two weeks after an armed person waved a gun inside a bagel shop.
An alert was sent out at 12.54pm ET on Wednesday, asking students and staff to “go inside now” and to “avoid windows” because of the threat “on or near campus”. An all-clear alert was put out at 2.10pm.
An official told The Daily Tar Heel that the incident came when the suspect allegedly brandished a gun at Alpine Bagel over an employment-related conflict.
No shots were fired and police said that suspect Mickel Deonte Harris, 27, was arrested at around 2.45pm just north of the campus.
This marks the second terrifying incident at the school in just over two weeks. On 28 August, the campus was on lockdown for hours amid reports of an “armed and dangerous person”.
That person was identified as Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old graduate student who allegedly shot and killed Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences.
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Breaking: UNC campus on lockdown
The University of North Carolina campus was placed into lockdown over an “armed and dangerous person” just two weeks after a faculty member was fatally shot there.
A campus alert was sent out at 12.54pm ET, asking students and staff to “go inside now” and to “avoid windows” because of the threat posed “on or near campus.”
The alert was lifted an hour later and a suspect has now been arrested.
Read more:
UNC campus on lockdown over ‘armed and dangerous person’ two weeks after shooting
Campus alert was sent out at 12.54pm ET, asking students and staff to ‘go inside now’ and to ‘avoid windows’
WATCH: Student describes seeing man pull out a gun at UNC campus bagel shop
Message from UNC chancellor
Dear Carolina Community,
At 12:55 p.m., an Alert Carolina was activated because of reports at the Student Union of a person who brandished a weapon. UNC Police reported no shots fired. The situation was related to a personnel matter for one of our auxiliary units.
We issued an “all clear” message to campus at approximately 2:10 p.m. Law enforcement has determined there is no longer an immediate threat to campus, and a suspect is in custody. UNC Police are working closely with Chapel Hill Police Department to gather information and continue their thorough and professional response.
Following the incident on Monday, Aug. 28, the news of another armed person and a second lockdown on our campus is concerning and can be traumatic. As a result, we are in Condition 3until 5 p.m. today and we will move to Condition 2 until 11:59 p.m. All residential classes are canceled for the rest of the day, and we will resume all classes tomorrow.
Please know that support is available and these departments stand ready to help. Students, including graduate and professional students and postdocs, please contact the Dean of Students team or Counseling and Psychological Services. Faculty and staff should reach out to the Employee Assistance Program.
I am grateful to our UNC Police and Emergency Operations team for managing this situation quickly and efficiently. Thank you to our faculty, staff and students for their cooperation and patience as we continue to strive to keep our community safe.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Guskiewicz Chancellor
Suspect taken into custody following UNC campus lockdown
Suspect waved gun at bagel shop
The University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus was put on lockdown for the second time in two weeks after an armed person waved a gun inside a bagel shop.
An alert was sent out at 12.54pm ET on Wednesday, asking students and staff to “go inside now” and to “avoid windows” because of the threat “on or near campus”. An all-clear alert was put out at 2.10pm.
An official told The Daily Tar Heel that the incident came when the suspect allegedly brandished a gun at Alpine Bagel over an employment-related conflict.
No shots were fired and police said that suspect Mickel Deonte Harris, 27, was arrested at around 2.45pm just north of the campus.
Suspect Mickel Deonte Harris had outstanding warrants for arrest
Suspect Mickel Deonte Harris had outstanding warrants for his arrest prior to Wednesday’s incident.
Police said that Mr Harris had outstanding warrants related to a 5 September assault.
On Wednesday, he allegedly sparked a campus-wide lockdown when he waved a gun at a bagel shop.
He was arrested just north of the campus soon after.
Incident said to be employment-related
An official told The Daily Tar Heel that the incident that plunged the site into lockdown is related to an employment-related conflict.
It unfolded when the suspect allegedly brandished a gun at Alpine Bagel on Wednesday afternoon.
No shots were fired and police said that suspect Mickel Deonte Harris, 27, was arrested at around 2.45pm just north of the campus.