BREAKING – TR briefly locks down after escape

By Rhiannon Saegert/The Collegian

Trinity River Campus was on lockdown for about 45 minutes Nov. 27 after police began searching for a suspect who left the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office across the street.

David Matthew Merrill was told at about 9 a.m. he had an outstanding warrant on a murder charge when he fled, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Terry Grisham.

A TR employee called police after possibly seeing the suspect, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him at this time.

A text message telling students to resume normal activities came out at 10:59 a.m. Vice Chancellor Reginald Gates said Fort Worth Police and the Sheriff’s Office told TCC to end the lockdown, but he does not know anything else at this time.

“We don’t have any word on that, but they decided to lift the lockdown,” he said.

Administrators referred questions to the Sheriff’s Office.

“This has been police matter, not a TCC matter,” TR Campus president Tahita Fulkerson said.

TR Philosophy professor Mark Anderson said the campus police were very efficient.

“The lockdown was just a precaution and pretty much painless,” Anderson said.

Police search for murder suspect near Trinity River Campus. Both TR and TRE campuses were on lockdown for 45 minutes. Photos by Alex Bihm/The Collegian
Police search for murder suspect near Trinity River Campus. Both TR and TRE campuses were on lockdown for 45 minutes.
Photos by Alex Bihm/The Collegian

 

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