No sign of armed person at Virginia campus

Just before 11am, the school issued an alert about a “possible armed subject” near the school’s Richmond campus.

Chaos spread across Virginia Commonwealth University on Friday after rumours of a possible gunman on campus spread, reports Reuters. Authorities described the subject as a male with a square military style hat and a backpack. The suspect was last seen walking east on West Grace Street from Belvidere Street and away from the Monroe Park campus.

The alert system broadcast the all clear shortly before 11 p.m., telling students and faculty to “resume normal activity and report any unusual activity to police”. According to the school, after an initial search police were unable to confirm the report.

People were advised to avoid the area and police were on the scene, the alert message said.

Virginia Commonwealth University say police are continuing to monitor the area. That shooter died following an exchange of gunfire with police.

Openly carrying a firearm is legal in Virginia. “But out of an abundance of caution, officers responded to search for this person”.