By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
About 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, dozens of police squad cars were seen around the campus of Elmhurst University after it was reported that a gunman had allegedly been spotted on the campus. With three helicopters whirling overhead, neighbors and news reporters stood by anxiously awaiting any news.
About 5 p.m., it was reported on Channel 7 news that a gunman had been spotted near the Niebuhr Hall residence. The report indicated the gunman moved on to another dormitory at the south end of the campus. As quickly as it began, the lockdown was lifted and the incident seemed to be over by about 5:30.
After asking students and faculty to “seek shelter in a locked room,” authorities searched several buildings in the area, but it was unclear whether a suspect was identified.
Later, the City of Elmhurst and Elmhurst University released the following joint statement:
“On April 28, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. Elmhurst police responded to a single report of a man with a gun at Elmhurst University, 190 Prospect Ave. “The campus was placed on lockdown while police and university public safety conducted a systematic search of the campus. No suspect in this incident was located and the University lifted the lockdown and resumed normal operations at 6 p.m.
“This incident remains under investigation by Elmhurst Police and Elmhurst University Public Safety.”
This information was also shared on the Elmhurst University web site.
