Liveblogging the "Emergency"

Well, that was exciting... Now, we're going to sleep. Thanks for reading our beta blog!

2:55 am --Cliatt told the Prince that it took that period of time for an alert to be sent because investigators were interviewing witnesses to establish whether there was a “credible threat.”

2:42 am --Oh, and the University is offering counseling for "individuals stressed by the incident," the Prince says. We're curious as to how many postponed midterms this is going to lead to.

2:35 am-- The real story tonight: Why did it take 80 minutes for Public Safety to send out an alert? If this had been a real criminal with a real gun, it would have been bad news bears.

More...

2:15 am-- The Prince is reporting that some dude is under custody of Borough Police. He was carrying a "permanently disabled and nonfunctional firearm" that he was planning to show to a friend.

1:52 am-- "I was watching Milk in the Frist theater, where there was a bit of an uproar when everyone received the first message on their iPhones, and the 'all is clear' text actually happened as the end credits were rolling." - SJP

1:46 am-- Quote of the night: "So that's what it's like, going to Yale."

1:35 am-- Being bombarded with automated text messages, phone calls, emails to signal the "all clear." Apparently, "an individual is being detained."

From the Princeton home page:

Public Safety at 1:20 a.m. has confirmed that there is no threat. Public Safety has issued an all clear, and members of the campus community can resume their normal activities. An individual has been identified in relation to the previous unconfirmed report of a student-age male with a weapon. That individual is being detained.

1:32 am-- FALSE ALARM. Thanks for scaring the shit out of us, Princeton!

1:17 am -- "I see people walking around Spelman. I think it's all cleared up by now." -AG

1:15 am --Word is spreading that ROTC is having some kind of event tonight. Can anyone confirm this?

1:09 am --"I was walking back from the gym at 12:40... I didn't see anyone. And I've heard from a few of my friends that ROTC has been walking around with their fake AKs all day..." -WAS

1:05 am --From this reporter's room in Henry Hall tower, there is no visible activity around Spelman Hall. All is pretty quiet. Washington Road University Place, which borders Spelman, is pretty empty, too. No police or Public Safety cars are visible.

One Press Clubber who resides in Spelman is hunkered down in his room with roommates and friends with blinds drawn and lights dimmed.

12:58 am --The official Princeton website posted a news bulletin at 12:47. Someone in Holder Hall has come out of their room and is walking around the courtyard. Not a good time for a smoke break, we think.

12:57 am Triangle member sends out this email to the triangle listserve:
Subject: IMPORTANT FACTS in re security message

[We] were walking to the Wa around 11:30. We spotted an individual carrying a gun (looked like an AK-47) and couldn't tell if it was fake or not. So I called Public Safety and reported it and gave them a report, and Borough Police also talked to us. That was at 11:30 and we haven't heard anything else from them.

12:55 am --Students in Holder Hall are locking their doors and...pulling down their blinds? Lights go off around the courtyard.

12:53 am --Public Safety sends an email:

====Emergency Communication Message from PRINCETON UNIVERSITY====

Dear Member of PRINCETON UNIVERSITY Community,

You have been sent a new message through the Connect-ED system.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
Message sent - 3/6/2009
PRINCETON ALERT - Remain inside

===================================
Message
===================================

This is an actual emergency and not a test. At 12:40 AM today, there is an unconfirmed report of a student-age mail carrying a weapon in the area of Spelman Hall. Stay inside . Public Safety has recommended that all students remain inside until further notice. Do not go outside to travel to another building. Close and lock the doors and windows. Check e-mail and/or the University's home page at www.princeton.edu for further information and updates.

12:50 am--We receive a recorded call from Public Safety saying that there is a "student-age mail [sic] carrying a weapon around Spelman Hall". Our roommate receives a text.