Virginia Tech alert lifted

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Tech has lifted the campus alert issued Thursday morning after children at camp reported seeing a man holding a gun near the dining hall.

The university community can now resume normal campus activity.

According to the Virginia Tech website, there will continue to be a large police presence on campus Thursday.

According to the original Virginia Tech Alert issued at 9:37 a.m., a person with a gun was spotted near Dietrick Dining Hall Thursday morning.

Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said the information from the campers was deemed credible.

Virginia Tech asked people on campus to stay inside and secure doors. Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day at the Blacksburg campus only, and football practice was pushed back to 5 p.m.

According to Chief Flinchum, three children, around 14 years old, were attending a Higher Achievement camp at the university when they reported seeing a white male, 6 feet tall, with light brown hair outside of New Residence Hall East holding something covered with a cloth, that may have been a handgun.

Officers responded immediately to the area but found no one matching the description.

Police released a composite sketch of the person.

Virginia Tech Police, Blacksburg Police, Christiansburg Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office all responded.

Richard Tagle, CEO of Higher Achievement, issued the following statement:

"Higher Achievement can confirm that our scholars were on campus during the situation at Virginia Tech and that three of our scholars reported seeing the suspect. Based on what we know from conversations with staff, our scholars told one of our teachers who then reported it to Virginia Tech security and the university responded immediately. Our scholars and staff always reported that they were safe. "

In 2007, a student gunman killed 32 students and faculty on the Virginia Tech campus and then killed himself.

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Related Links:

• Virginia Tech Campus Map
• Dietrick Hall Information