A man with a microphone stand was mistaken for a gunman yesterday at West Conn. A woman called 911 and a "shelter in place" alert was sent out. Danbury Public Schools were placed on lock down as a precaution while police searched the midtown campus.
A man was taken into custody and questioned, leading to the university alert being lifted. When it was discovered that the man didn't have a weapon, a second alert was issued. University spokesman Paul Steinmetz says they do practice for various scenarios, but when they happen in real life there are circumstances that aren't planned for. He says they try to put out the best message at the time.
Danbury Police, State Troopers and university Police searched floor by floor but did not locate another suspect or a weapon. Police also conducted a rooftop search with a drone.
Officials say it's plausible that the mic stand could have looked like a long gun, depending on how it was carried.
Steinmetz noted that not only was summer session underway, but there were also Henry Abbott Tech High School students in White Hall.
