Photo by Georgia Phillips/The Collegian
By Karen Gavis and Elaine Bonilla
SE Campus was locked down this afternoon following reports of an armed burglar near campus.
“TCC SE Campus Emergency LOCKDOWN in effect – TAKE ACTION NOW – LEAVE IF YOU CAN,” myTCC alert messages sent to students around noon read.
Messages were sent to students, faculty and staff by phone, texts, emails, message clocks and campus computers. Those unable to leave campus were told to “STAY in your room or building, TURN OUT lights, CLOSE blinds, LOCK or barricade doors and windows, SILENCE your cell phones. Await further instructions.”
Grand Prairie police detective Lyle Gensler said the college made the decision to lockdown after a burglar reportedly stole a firearm from a home nearby. The burglar was suspected to be in the woods nearby but had not been apprehended, according to dallasnews.com.
“It’s crazy. I’m glad I’m not in there,” SE freshman Devon Mane said.
SE sophomore Brant Waldrop said the threats couldn’t be taken seriously because there are always threats.
SE student Crystal Bennett was working the information desk when she heard a news report of an armed burglar.
“I went into Mr. Rusty Fox’s office [during the lockdown],” she said.
Library manager Andrew Strohschein thought quick on his feet telling everyone to get in the library rooms, SE administrative assistant Denise Krajca said.
“He took everyone into the library classroom and barricaded it with the library tables,” she said. “He even turned off the lights and said no talking.”
Strohschein said he did so because bad things happen, and people just have to do what they can.
At 1:15 p.m. TCC’s website posted that the lockdown had ended and SE was closed for the remainder of the day.
Vice president of student development services Rusty Fox was in the hallway informing students of the campus closing. Police officers remained on the property ensuring students exited the campus safely.
SE student Kaylen Howard said she liked the fact that the TCC lockdown went into effect.
However, “some students didn’t take it seriously,” she said.
