On Sunday night the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) issued a series of alert messages to university students, staff and faculty about a suspect believed to be armed on the 1900 block of University Blvd. According to the alert emails, the suspect was “armed and dangerous” and traveling north on University Blvd. when the first alert was sent out at 8:52 p.m.

“If you are outside, please seek safety in the nearest building immediately. If you are inside, please do not leave the building until Campus Safety issues an ALL CLEAR message or additional instructions,” the email said.

After several campus buildings were shut down due to the threat, including Centennial Halls, Driscoll Student Center and the Ritchie Center, an “all clear” email was issued by DCS at 9:27 p.m.

“We got a call from [the Denver Police Department] about this suspect,” said DCS information officer Stephen Banet. “We didn’t know why he was wanted or why they were looking for him or anything like that.”

According to a spokesman for the Denver Police Department (DPD), the suspect was in fact a bicycle thief, who was not caught. Despite earlier reports, the suspect was not armed.

As DPD conducted a search for the suspect, DCS continued to receive information on updates and relay it to the campus community.

“As soon as we can confirm it we want to get the information out as quickly as possible, but we need to temper that with accuracy,” said Banet.

Information was distributed via email, as well as sent by text to students signed up with the campus emergency notification system.

At 9:27 p.m., an update was sent out that the threat had passed.

“When these things happen they (DCS) have to do a lot, and do it very fast. There was a lot of cooperation shown by the DU community,” said Banet.