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Active shooter reported at Oklahoma campus

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz04/07/23

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An active shooter has been reported on the Oklahoma campus, the university announced Friday night. The announcement came at 9:24 p.m. local time.

Law enforcement is responding to the Van Vleet Oval on the Oklahoma campus after possible gunfire. The university issued a “run, hide, fight” warning in the announcement.

“OU-Norman Emergency: There is an active shooter at the Van Vleet Oval,” the university tweeted. “Take immediate action now. Run. Hide. Fight!”

At 10:54 p.m. CT — 90 minutes after the initial report — the university issued the all clear and confirmed no threat was found. As a result, the alert was canceled.

“OU-NORMAN Critical 10:53pm: OUPD has issued an ALL CLEAR,” the university said. “After a thorough search, no threat was found. There is no threat to campus. Alert has been canceled.”

Timeline of events at Oklahoma after active shooter report

Officials then provided another update at 9:46 p.m. CT saying OUPD is looking into possible shots fired and told students to shelter in place.

“OU-NORMAN Emergency 9:45pm OUPD investigating possible shots fired on Norman campus,” the university tweeted. “Avoid South Oval area. Shelter in place.”

The investigation was still ongoing as of 10:04 p.m. CT, the university said.

“OU-NORMAN Emergency 10:04pm OUPD continues to investigate possible shots fired on Norman campus,” the tweet read. “Avoid South Oval area. Continue sheltering in place.”

According to the OU Daily — the Oklahoma student newspaper — the library was cleared once and no sign of activity was found, according to the Cleveland County Public Safety scanner. The building was cleared again at 10:13 p.m. As of that update, there were no shots fired and no clear victims.

At 10:15 p.m., 40 units arrived on the scene and held a perimeter.

The university posted another updated at 10:30 p.m. saying the investigation was still ongoing.

“OU-NORMAN Emergency 10:30pm OUPD continues to investigate,” the tweet read. “Avoid South Oval area. Continue sheltering in place.”

The OU Daily published another update shortly thereafter, at 10:32 p.m., saying authorities were searching for shell casings. OUPD was on the south side of the library and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was checking the north side. Two minutes later, at 10:34 p.m., red confetti was found on the library’s south side.

At 10:38 p.m. CT, The OU Daily posted another update saying all units were called to stand down, according to the Cleveland County Public Safety scanner. The all clear was given 16 minutes later.