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University of Arkansas 'active shooter' sees students barricaded: 'pray for their safety'
Reach Daily Express | August 26, 2025 7:39 PM CST

The University of Arkansas was plunged into chaos on Monday afternoon following reports of an active shooter, prompting an immediate lockdown.

An urgent message was broadcast across the university's alert system, with officials directing everyone to steer clear of Mullins Library. The authenticity of the active shooter report remains unverified, as two other similar incidents reported on Monday were later debunked.

At precisely 12:43 p. m. CDT, the university issued a stark warning: "RazALERT Emergency Notification: Avoid the area of Mullins Library due to an active shooter reported. Avoid. Deny. Defend." The news comes just weeks after Trump himself was briefed on a shooting at army base.

A concerned individual posted online: "My daughter is barricaded with others on campus. Pray for their safety."

Details surrounding the incident are scarce, but social media has been flooded with images and footage of police responding swiftly to the scene.

Situated in Fayetteville, the main campus of the University of Arkansas lies in the state's northwest, close to the Oklahoma and Missouri borders, approximately 113 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders relayed her concern via her official account, amplifying the university's initial emergency announcement.

"We are in touch with school administrators and are monitoring the situation at @UArkansas. Stay alert. And follow the direction of law enforcement," she advised.

Local police told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that there's no evidence of a shooting, however. Fayetteville Police Department spokesman Sgt. Stephen Mauk said that officers investigated a possible active shooter shortly after 12:30 p.m., but they received no confirmation of an active shooter at that time.

About an hour later, at 1:30 p.m., Mauk said there was no evidence that a shooting had taken place but that police were running down leads and looking for evidence.

Fayetteville police and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were seen responding to the scene on Dickson Street near the campus shortly after noon. A perimeter was quickly established around Mullins Library.

Fayetteville Public Schools also went on lockdown on Monday in response to the reports of an active shooter, the school district told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and are in touch with local law enforcement," a notice sent to parents reads. "Our schools are remaining in secure status, meaning no one is allowed in or out of the schools but the school day is continuing."

University of Arkansas junior Brock Boddie told KNWA that he was on the third floor of Mullins Library when he heard people shouting and moving around.

Moments later, he received the university alert about the possible active shooter, and he and other students were immediately ushered into another building, where they saw armed officers standing outside the library with their guns drawn.


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