Police searching for two suspects after armed assault at UMass Amherst

AMHERST, Mass. — Students and staff at the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus were ordered to shelter in place Thursday evening after a report of two possible gunmen on campus.

The incident was reported in Pierpont Hall around 5:15 p.m. Soon after, police established a perimeter around the building. By 7:30, the shelter in place order had been lifted.

>>PHOTOS: Layout of Pierpont Hall at UMass Amherst

The school sent several text alerts to students warning them of a hostile person near Pierpont Hall, which is a freshman dorm.

Police said the caller reported two suspects, one of whom had shown a handgun.

Police said they were on the scene within seconds or minutes of the call, but believe the suspects had fled the area as soon as the call was placed.

One student was injured during the incident. Police say he suffered a cut on his head from where he had been hit, possibly with a gun.

The suspects are described as college-age white males. One was wearing a grey shirt, according to a witness, and the other was wearing a dark shirt with a gold chain.

“We have a good confidence right now that they are not UMass students. They were here from out of town to target this student,” UMass Amherst Police Chief Tyrone Parham said.

Police believe the suspects left the area in a vehicle. They have not been caught.

Parham said he expects another update at 10 a.m. Friday.

Cox Media Group