Eugene police cordon off 15th Avenue at Agate Street on Friday afternoon in response to a report that a student was loading a weapon in the nearby Hamilton Complex.
A student loading a BB gun in his residence hall room caused the Eugene Police Department to evacuate the Hamilton and Walton residence hall complexes Friday afternoon — and caused rumors that something more severe had happened.
Shortly after 2 p.m., a student reported seeing another student loading a weapon in a Robbins Hall room, EPD spokeswoman Pam Alejandre said. Officers armed with assault rifles responded to the report and immediately closed Agate Street between 13th and 15th avenues, and evacuated Hamilton Complex and part of Walton Complex.
Eugene police did not file charges, but Gaye Vandermyn, associate director of communications, said the Student Conduct Committee and University housing officials plan to address the issue of what the student was doing with a BB gun in his room — a violation of the Student Conduct Code and housing regulations.
Hundreds of students congregated in the courtyard behind Carson Hall, and rumors of an armed student with hostages soon circulated around campus.
“The cops said to us that there was a hostage situation and we had to get out,” University student Nick Taylor said. Taylor, who is a resident in Bean Complex, was visiting friends in Robbins Hall when the incident occurred.
By 3:15 p.m., officers had discovered that the weapon was only a BB gun. Alejandre said the student came out of his room as officers were approaching and asked what was happening. After realizing that he was the focus of the commotion, the student led officers to his room and showed them the BB gun, Alejandre said.
Students were then allowed to return to their rooms, and the 15 officers quickly packed up and left.
Emerald staff members Kara Cogswell,
Eric Martin, Marty Toohey and Robin Weber contributed to this report.