Campus

Gunman Reported on Campus at Rochester Institute of Technology Turns Out to Be Person With an Umbrella

What was originally thought to be a person with a rifle on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Rochester, N.Y. Friday morning was in fact someone with an umbrella, according to local media reports.

A bus driver reportedly spotted someone with an object that looked like a rifle, according to local ABC affiliate WHAM-TV. When Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies investigated, they discovered it was only an umbrella and that there was no threat to students.

The university had sent a series of alerts Friday morning warning that a person with a rifle had been reported and instructing students to stay indoors.

“Shelter in place. Person allegedly with rifle spotted outside Kate Gleason residence hall. People in the area of the residence halls are advised to stay inside, lock or barricade doors until further notice. Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies are on scene,” the alert said.

The university later issued an all-clear and the alert was lifted.

A tweet from RIT’s Twitter account said the umbrella had a “Samurai sword handle.”

This post has been updated since it was first published.

Comments (33)

  • soap on a rope
    Posted on March 18, 2012 at 12:08pm

    When did locking the doors, turning out the lights, and pretending you’re not home become the best way to handle an armed attacker? Are universities installing bulletproof doors and walls now? I suppose they are swordbrellaproof though.

    Report Post »  
  • Chuck Stein
    Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:24am

    This happened a few years ago at the Burlington Mall in Massachusetts.

    Report Post »  
  • zoro51
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 7:36pm

    have you NO logic as to what a GUN /rifle looks liek as oposed to a UMBRELLA ??? go back to romper room re learn n stop being a IDIOT

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • Delta D-5-3
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 6:05pm

    Ok that’s it! It’s HI TIME we ban those evil looking tactical umbrellas!!

    Report Post » Delta D-5-3  
  • izukiddin
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 4:18pm

    Bus drivers are usually known to be pillars of intellect, and umbrellas look a lot like a rifle. Huh?? But the really dangerous weapon that most tech students need to fear so that they can cower behind barricaded doors is the dreaded Samurai parasol. When someone is armed with this deadly contraption, no one is safe. LOL

    Report Post »  
  • Arshloch
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 3:01pm

    Only in ‘Nayak’. If Mary Poppins dropped by she would pose a threat to the wimpy ‘Nayakers’.

    Report Post » Arshloch  
  • BarackStalin
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:53pm

    Not to worry folks…umbrellas will be illegal soon.

    Report Post » BarackStalin  
  • Blacktooth
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 1:07pm

    Paranoia runs deep these days..

    Report Post » Blacktooth  
  • scguitar
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:47pm

    I was sleeping over a friends apartment at RIT when this happened. Figures the first time I go to RIT there are reports of someone with a rifle. I mean, what a joke. I should get me one of those gunbrellas

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:32pm

    Protect the Liberal Professors… paranoia!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • JoeNY
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:34am

    It’s that global warming thing again!! Everyone knows that you don’t have “umbrella season” in Rochester until April. This is supposed to be “snow shovel season”. Ahhhhhhhhh, damn all of you car driving, heat liking, food eating people!

    It’s high time that the government regulate umbrellas too! I’m totally uncomfortable with seeing those really big “golf” umbrellas, those that pop open like an automatic knife, and those black ones- they scare me! I think there should be a regulation on the size, color, and function allowed on umbrellas! Yeah, that’ll be common sense legislation….. and people should register their umbrellas.

    Report Post »  
  • jungle J
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 11:20am

    progressives do this on purpose to incite the sane….only the sane understand.

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:59am

    We need to strengthen the umbrella laws in this country before this happens again! How many more will have to die (or get nervous for no reason) before this country wakes up? At least make them paint the tip of the umbrella orange.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Czynik
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:41pm

      lol – love it – orange tips by order of the BATF.

      De Ja Vue all over again – I seem to remember an umbrella flap once before.

      Report Post »  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:48am

    ” It’s an error being caught with an umbrella without a rain, and it’s a mistake when caught without one when it does.”

    Report Post »  
  • SpeckledPup
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:31am

    we have never seen a rifle with a samurai sword handle

    Report Post »  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:29am

    I think that is a handgun! Opps sorry, it’s a boot. IDIOTS!!!

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
    • Countrygirl1362
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 10:37am

      Same thing happened at ECU in Greenville, NC, a while back. Campus was on lock down for hours.

      Report Post »  
  • blanco5
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:51am

    I don’t know….have you ever been poked in the eye with an umbrella. Uh-oh, I’m giving gov ideas. BAN ALL UMBRELLAS!!!!! You must have a 3 day waiting period for umbrellas. There must be a complete ban on those that pop out by themselves! (those are the “automatics”)

    Report Post »  
  • ianmc002
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:44am

    TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12

    Hey Time I gotta ask if you are one of the Beckers who buys his PM’s from Goldline?

    Report Post » ianmc002  
  • mrken3235
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:35am

    A friend of mine goes to this school. Certainly hope it’s nothing serious.

    Report Post »  
  • Johneg97
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:28am

    It was a guy with an umbrella

    Report Post »  
  • sonseeker
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:28am

    he was going hunting and someone saw his rifle…oooooooooo

    Report Post » sonseeker  
  • blanco5
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:17am

    Just think….if the students and teachers were armed, this would be over in seconds. Or not happened at all!!!

    Report Post »  
    • randy
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:22am

      If only I lived closer that 70 miles from Rochester.

      Report Post » randy  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:29am

      You wouldn’t see many at RIT with weapons for self defense or defense of other… RIT is a bastion of wishy washy liberal values.

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • ianmc002
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:41am

      TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12

      Left you a couple of common sense answers on the last blog concerning your confusion on “non-interventionalist” lol

      Report Post » ianmc002  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:48am

      IAN. You‘re kinda’ like a stalker… lol. If it’s written by you… let’s leave “common sense” out of the equation okay?

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • ianmc002
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 9:59am

      TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12

      I just feel the ‘need’ to debunk the excrement you are spewing. Do you have a lucid understanding of what non-interventionist means?
      We are not afraid to use force we just want to try diplomacy first…before spending TRILLIONS of dollars.

      Read that Glenn?

      Report Post » ianmc002  

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