University notified an hour after events
On the evening of Monday, Feb. 7, reports of an active shooter on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville spread amongst students. Students started to receive messages from other students and friends around 10 p.m. with rumors of the incident.
They talked of someone in a ski mask with a rifle outside of the Rec. An email from Chief of Police for the University Police Department (UPD) Felipe Garza later reported “a person [male] wearing a ski mask and possibly holding what appeared to be a weapon in the area of the Rec Center,” later stating that “rumors of an active shooter at TAMUK are untrue.”
The email came over an hour after rumors of the situation spread to students, some sheltering in place on various campus locations, awaiting notification from the university, with the Rec put on lockdown with students and staff still inside.
UPD arrived at the scene and searched for anyone fitting the description, with aid from the Kingsville Police Department (KPD) but did not locate anyone.
According to Garza’s email the individual “was reported to be in a red four-door sedan.”
UPD will release information and updates as facts become available, and they ask that the university community take precautions, to always be aware of your surroundings, and trust your instincts. And, if you suspect something is wrong, try to remove yourself from the situation and notify local law enforcement of the suspicious activity as soon as possible, Garza’s email stated.
Those with information regarding the incident should contact TAMUK UPD at 361-593-2611 or KPD at 361-592-4311 or call 911.
The South Texan continues to investigate and secure information on the suspected event and will report with more information as it is released.