Shelter in place lifted at Washington & Lee following possible threat

Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader
Updated ·2 min read
Washingtons and Lee University posted on its social media platforms and its website at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon that it had received a notice of a possible threat to campus. Lexington police and K9 unit from Rockbridge Sheriff deputies investigate an area near Macado's on South Main street in Lexington Nov. 1. Nothing was found.
Washingtons and Lee University posted on its social media platforms and its website at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon that it had received a notice of a possible threat to campus. Lexington police and K9 unit from Rockbridge Sheriff deputies investigate an area near Macado's on South Main street in Lexington Nov. 1. Nothing was found.

LEXINGTON — After a threat was received Wednesday afternoon by officials at Washington and Lee University, it appears there is no active violence at this time. The Lexington Police Department said a shelter in place is now lifted as of 7:25 p.m.

"Law enforcement appreciates the community’s understanding as we conducted a thorough search of the W&L campus out of an abundance of caution from an earlier threat received that was isolated only to the W&L campus," a post on the police department's Facebook page. "W&L Shelter-in-place has been lifted."

The school posted that the search is complete and all buildings are clear. It also said that law enforcement will provide additional security on campus Wednesday night.

Washington and Lee posted on its social media platforms and its website at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon that it had received a notice of a possible threat to campus. It asked those on campus to shelter in place until further notice.

About 20 minutes later, at 4:04 p.m., the school posted that law enforcement is on the scene and asked those on campus to continue to shelter in place.

At 4:31 p.m., the school posted that "law enforcement has confirmed no active violence on campus at this time," but it did say an investigation is ongoing and it asked people to continue to shelter in place "out of abundance of caution."

"Law enforcement is conducting a building-by-building search of campus," a post to the school's website read at 4:51 p.m. "We will notify you when the shelter-in-place order is lifted."

At 6:11 p.m. the school said that the search of campus is ongoing and asked those on campus to continue to shelter in place until all-clear is issued.

"Be mindful of law enforcement presence in some buildings," the post said. The school also said that students who reside on campus but are currently off-campus may shelter in place at the Rockbridge County Courthouse at 20 S. Randolph St.

Washington and Lee is a small private college with approximately 1,900 undergraduate students in Lexington.

Washingtons and Lee University posted on its social media platforms and its website at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon that it had received a notice of a possible threat to campus. Lexington police and K9 unit from Rockbridge Sheriff deputies investigate an area near Macado's on South Main street in Lexington Nov. 1.. Nothing was found.
Washingtons and Lee University posted on its social media platforms and its website at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon that it had received a notice of a possible threat to campus. Lexington police and K9 unit from Rockbridge Sheriff deputies investigate an area near Macado's on South Main street in Lexington Nov. 1.. Nothing was found.

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Shelter in place lifted at Washington & Lee following possible threat