LOWELL — The Lowell Police Department recovered an airsoft rifle and identified a juvenile male on Thursday, who was reported to be brandishing a firearm near the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Wednesday, which prompted the campus to be placed on lockdown and triggered a large response from multiple police departments, including Westford.
Police said they received the emergency call about a possible gunman shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, near UMass Lowell’s South Campus.
Lowell police officers responded to the scene and quickly began searching the area, using a drone and K9 units to assist them. Officers were joined by the UMass Lowell Police, Massachusetts State Police troopers and air wing, officers and a swat team from the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC), Lowell National Historical Park law enforcement rangers, as well as the FBI and ATF.
Westford Police Captain Mike Breault later confirmed that Westford officers and K9 units assisted in the search and investigation.
Officers at the scene obtained video that was circulating on social media of the suspect, but police said the incident was at no time an active shooter situation and there was no evidence of shots fired.
The lockdown at UMass Lowell was lifted Wednesday evening, when police said the suspect was no longer in the area of the campus.
Police said detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident while patrol officers continued securing the area overnight Wednesday into Thursday.
“The safety of this city, and its residents and visitors, is our top priority,” Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon said. “The extensive response of personnel and assets by this department and our law enforcement partners was a testament to that commitment. I want to thank all our officers and partners for their brave response as well as our investigators for their diligent investigative work that brought closure to this incident. I would especially like to thank the residents of the affected neighborhood for their cooperation and understanding while this incident unfolded. While the reported firearm in this case was ultimately determined to be an airsoft gun, our community can be certain that, as in this case, the Lowell Police Department will always utilize all available resources until the safety of all involved is assured.”
The incident occurred just after the fall semester began at UMass Lowell.
Following the incident, UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen shared a message with the campus community on the university website, which said “everyone should know the safety and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff are the top priorities of this university. Our decision to resume a regular schedule today, made in close cooperation with our Emergency Management and law enforcement partners, reflects our belief that our campus is a safe place to learn and work.”
Chen also noted that mental health resources are available to the UMass Lowell community and encouraged everyone to show “compassion and flexibility toward one and other.”
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who represents both Lowell and Westford, also shared her response to the incident on social media.
“Yesterday was a scary day — not just for UMass Lowell students and parents on their first day of classes, but for our entire city,” Trahan said. “I’m grateful to our first responders who responded quickly and effectively to keep our community safe.”
