Camera equipment mistaken for gun led to lockdown at Fort Worth UNT Health Science Center

A report that a man was possibly armed inside a building at the University of North Texas Health Science Center led to a lockdown Wednesday, but it turned out the man was only carrying camera equipment, a university official said.

“All is safe,” Chief Operating Officer Ruth Roman said at a news conference after the lockdown was lifted.

A Fort Worth police spokesman said no threat was found after the UNT Health Science Center locked down Wednesday afternoon due to a “potential for violence.”

According to a Fort Worth police call log, a student called 911 about 12:35 p.m. and reported seeing a man holding a rifle inside the Interdisciplinary Research and Education building, at 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd.

About 2:15 p.m., Fort Worth Police Officer Buddy Calzada said police had found the “person of interest” described by the caller. He said any additional information would be released by UNT officials.

At the time of the call., UNT officers were inside the building trying to locate the man, according to the call log. They requested Fort Worth police to respond.

A MedStar ambulance also was on the scene on standby Wednesday afternoon, but no injuries were reported in the incident, authorities said.

During the lockdown, university officials encouraged everyone in the area to seek shelter immediately.

“There is a potential for violence affecting the HSC campus near the IREB building that requires immediate lockdown,” UNTHSC said in a tweet just before 1 p.m.. “Seek shelter immediately inside a secure location. More info to follow.”

The campus is located at 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. Camp Bowie Boulevard was shut down in both directions.

More than two dozen police units, including a SWAT team responded and helped clear the building and evacuate students. A helicopter was circling overhead.

In a tweet about 2:25 p.m., university officials said that the lockdown was lifted. Officials did not say how many students were in the building at the time.

The five-story IREB building opened in 2018 and houses the UNT System College of Pharmacy, the Texas Christian University and UNTHSC School of Medicine and the North Texas Eye Research Institute.

Health Science Center student Manoj Patel told the Star-Telegram that he was in a clinic when the lockdown started. He said it lasted about an hour but felt much longer.

“It was a little scary, but we were in the clinic and still had patients to tend to, so that’s where my focus was,” Patel said.

A patient who declined to share her name said she probably would have been terrified if it weren’t for the staff.

Alyssa Ching was by herself in a study room when she heard there were police officers with guns searching the building. She locked down in a room with some other students.

“It was pretty scary,” she said. Now that it’s over, “I feel better now, relieved.”

Sydney, a student at the Health Science Center who declined to give her last name, said the police response was quick and organized and that made her feel safe.

Sara, another student who declined to give her last name, said she was studying when she heard about the alarm. She locked down with some of her classmates. She said even though there didn’t turn out to be a threat, she was grateful the school and police took immediate action.

“When you’re sitting there you’re thinking about, you know, the possibilities, and it felt very good to see the response,” she said.

Star-Telegram staff writer Domingo Ramirez Jr. contributed to this report.

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