New Concord, Ohio (AP) — An incident at Muskingum University in Ohio has left many puzzled as officials investigate reports of a potential shooting that led to a campus lockdown. On Monday night, the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that no shooting had occurred and issued a statement on Facebook to inform the public that law enforcement personnel were still on-site conducting inquiries.
Sheriff Matt Lutz of Muskingum County stated that the misunderstanding arose when a staff member misinterpreted conversations among students discussing a previous domestic altercation. The situation escalated when it was incorrectly conveyed to authorities as a possible hostage situation or a person armed with a gun. After thorough interviews with students and inspections of campus buildings, no evidence of a shooting was found, prompting the lifting of the shelter-in-place order.
Muskingum University, situated in New Concord, Ohio, had alerted its community about the alleged shooting through its website, advising all individuals on campus to remain indoors until further instructions were provided. The institution, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, houses over 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students and is located approximately 70 miles east of Columbus.
As investigations continue, the authorities have urged the public to steer clear of the area to allow for an unimpeded examination of the situation. Updates will be shared with the campus community as soon as additional information becomes available.
