Gun-wielding juvenile puts University of Montevallo on alert

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 1, 2007

The Selma Times-Journal

MONTEVALLO &045; Authorities continue to search for a young woman who went into a University of Montevallo dorm brandishing a weapon.

The incident occurred Tuesday about 9 p.m. at Brooke Residence Hall, an all-female dorm. Students there said the juvenile was searching for a resident. The youth didn’t fire any shots and nobody was injured.

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University police retrieved the weapon they believed was used in the incident from a friend of the suspect, who lives in an off-campus apartment.

Shackelford said UM police believe the juvenile left the city.

Concerned parents inundated Shackelford’s office with calls as the news spread.

College and universities nationwide have taken extra precautions since the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., put the entire country on alert when a student shot and killed 32 people and wounded several more.

Shackelford said the institution will continue to educate students and faculty regarding safety and security issues and are encouraged to take the &8220;common-sense approach as it relates to any security concern.&8221;

UM is currently reviewing specifications for an alert system that will transmit emails, text messages and phone calls to the community as a whole.