JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State University was on lockdown after a report of armed men on the campus.
The lockdown was lifted at about 2:40 p.m. after it was determined to be a false alarm, according to a statement released by the school.
There were reportedly two or three men with weapons near the student union, the school initially reported. Arkansas State issued the lockdown alert shortly before 2 p.m.
However, University Police and Jonesboro police searched the area and determined there was no armed suspect on the campus, ASU spokesman Bill Smith said.
No shots were fired, Jonesboro Police said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies worked together and eventually determined the reported “intruders” were actually “costumed actors” being filmed for a student video project, according to the university.
University Police spoke to those students to confirm it was indeed a false alarm, but police will continue to monitor the campus the rest of the day.
No one was arrested.
Arkansas State had a similar situation in December when the campus was placed on lockdown and an active shooter alert was issued.
The suspect in that incident, Brad Bartelt, 47, was taken into custody. He had a 12-gauge shotgun, a can of gasoline and a 100-pound propane tank in his truck, Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott said.
No shots were ever fired, and no one was hurt.
Bartelt was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threatening, criminal possession of explosives and possession of a gun on school property.