University of Georgia gives alert for active shooter on Athens campus

The University of Georgia issued an emergency alert after an armed shooter was reported on campus. The alert said to avoid the area of the Main Library.

According to FOX 5 Atlanta, UGA Police said they received the call around 8:45 p.m. ET to the communications center. The timestamp on the university’s emergency alert was 8:51 p.m. and said to avoid the Main Library, which is located at the heart of campus on South Jackson Street.

“This is an Emergency UGA Police Alert Message for the Athens Campus,” read the alert. “There has been a report of an armed shooter in the area of Main Library. Please avoid this area. First responders are on the scene. More information will be posted at emergency.uga.edu as it becomes available. Please do not call emergency numbers for information.”

Officers responded immediately and searched the library, as well as the surrounding evidence, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. During that search, they didn’t find any evidence of a shooter.

In a subsequent alert sent at 10:34 p.m. ET, though, police said the evidence suggests a hoax. The investigation remains ongoing and they encouraged people continue avoiding the area.

“This is an Emergency UGA Police Alert Message for the Athens Campus,” the update reads. “Police are on scene at Library, at this time evidence suggests a hoax. Please continue to avoid this area. First responders are on the scene. More information will be posted at emergency.uga.edu as it becomes available. Please do not call emergency numbers for information.”

The armed shooter alert at the University of Georgia is the latest such instance across the country this week. At the University of Arkansas, a shooter was reported, though it was later confirmed to be a hoax. The University of South Carolina also had an unconfirmed report of an active shooter on campus Aug. 23.

In a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta, UGA police said officers will remain in the area to continue investigating. The department confirmed the preliminary investigation suggests it was a hoax.

“Officers quickly responded and searched the area. A preliminary investigation suggests the event was a hoax, but officers remain in the vicinity to investigate and collect information,” the department said, via FOX 5 Atlanta.

Students at the University of Georgia just completed their second full week of classes after they began Aug. 13. The university has a scheduled holiday on Monday for Labor Day.