Ammunition reported at Wilson Hall, no threat determined

Story by Mary Bradley, Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Jenny Rohl/The News
Photo by Jenny Rohl/The News

A student on the third floor of Wilson Hall brought ammunition for an organizational communication presentation just before noon today, causing Public Safety and Emergency Management officers to respond and professors and students in the building to clear the hallways.

Adrienne King, vice president of Marketing and Outreach, said there was a security concern but quick responses from students, faculty and staff to alert Public Safety allowed officers to quickly determine there was no threat to campus.

“Somebody saw something and they said something, which is exactly what we want them to do,” King said. “Campus Public Safety responded in less than a minute and a half.”

She said Public Safety is still investigating the incident. She said shortly before 1 p.m. she could not talk about the details, but she said she applauded the students, staff and faculty for remaining alert.

A student who saw the ammunition reported it to Marion Hale, administrative assistant for department of journalism and mass communications, who immediately called Public Safety.

Hale said the student who reported it to her appeared shaken and quickly left the building.

After Public Safety officers arrived, they placed into handcuffs the student who brought in the ammunition. They interviewed him before releasing him just before 1 p.m. The student declined to comment to The News about the incident.

Roy Dunaway, interim chief of Public Safety, also declined to comment.

According to Murray State’s policy on weapons and dangerous materials, “Weapons and dangerous materials are prohibited on all property owned or controlled by Murray State University.”

“Any weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing death or other serious physical injury, may be discharged,” the policy says. “This includes firearms, and ammunition for firearms, and BB and pellet guns” are defined as weapons.

Michael Bokeno, department chair for organizational communication, said the incident will “certainly” bring up a conversation within the department about student presentations. He said he could not comment on whether the professor knew about the student’s topic.

Correction: The article and headline previously stated that ammunition was loaded into a cartridge. That is incorrect. The News regrets the error.

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