Lockdown lifted for Anderson University, schools after shooting; police apprehend suspect
The City of Anderson Police Department, SWAT, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, and investigators are actively investigating a shooting incident near East Whitener Street in Anderson.
According to a press release, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Senior Officer Ren Johnson and Detective Ross Richey responded to the audible sounds of a shooting near Renaissance Academy.
Upon arrival, officers found a male victim with a gunshot wound to the calf in the 800 block of East Whitner Street.
Detective Ross Richey immediately provided life-saving aid to the victim, applying a tourniquet to the upper leg to control bleeding until fire and medical personnel arrived.
According to a press release, a suspect, described as a Black male, was seen fleeing the scene armed with a weapon.
Officers pursued the suspect near Jefferson Avenue.
Additional units from the Anderson Police Department (APD) and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) quickly responded to establish a perimeter around the area.
A K-9 unit from the Anderson Police Department conducted a tracking operation assisted by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.
During the tracking operation, perimeter officers received a tip from a concerned citizen regarding a person matching the suspect's description seen hiding in D.B. Walker Park.
Officers successfully located and detained an individual fitting the suspect's description in D.B. Walker Park.
The person of interest has been transported to the Anderson Police Department for questioning.
This remains an active investigation.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
The proximity of the shooting to local schools raised concerns, prompting both Nevitt Forest and CF Reames to go into "secure status."
This procedure, as explained by Kyle Newton, chief communications officer with Anderson District Five, involves getting inside and locking outside doors.
This is to ensure the safety of students and staff, he added.
These measures were taken as a precaution, Newton said. The situation was resolved in less than an hour, and all schools resumed normal operations.
Anderson University was also placed on lockdown.
According to a press release, the university initially warned students of an 'armed intruder on campus,' leading to immediate shelter-in-place orders.
However, officials have since clarified that the suspect was never on campus.
Instead, he was in a nearby area and headed toward the university.
In a follow-up message to the Anderson University community, the school clarified that the original alert contained inaccurate wording.
There are no injuries reported on campus, and students are being urged to remain indoors as a precautionary measure.
Law enforcement presence will remain high in the area until the situation is fully resolved to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
University officials are working closely with local authorities to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
An Anderson University student said the school was on lockdown for about 15 minutes.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., about an hour after the initial report, Anderson University Campus Safety lifted the lockdown after receiving confirmation from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office that any potential threat had subsided.
The Renaissance Academy, which was also in the vicinity, was not involved in the incident.
According to a press release, as a precautionary measure, students were safely dismissed from the rear of the school, and staff members were assisted in exiting through the front. Anderson University was also notified due to its proximity to the scene.
Director of Campus Police Eddie Amen says the lockdown only lasted about 30 minutes.
Photographer Ken Ruinard contributed to this article.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Lockdown lifted for Anderson University, schools; suspect caught
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