Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, issued a precautionary lockdown on Friday night, October 23, after police responded to a reported domestic disturbance near campus involving a firearm. Students were instructed to remain indoors while officers searched for a man who reportedly fled the scene.
Authorities distinguished the incident from an active shooter situation on university grounds, saying the initial disturbance took place off campus. The reported gunshot nevertheless prompted an urgent response and safety precautions for the university community.
What Police Reported Near Broadway Street
According to statements attributed to Albany Police Chief Michael Persley, officers were called shortly before 8 p.m. to the 100 block of Broadway Street.
Police were told that a woman had reported being attacked by her son while they were inside a vehicle. During the confrontation, the man allegedly took a firearm from her purse, according to the initial account.
The woman reportedly escaped from the vehicle and sought refuge in a nearby business. A gunshot was then heard, and the suspect was reported to have run toward the area of Union Baptist Church.
The available information does not establish what caused the gunshot or whether anyone was struck by gunfire.
University Issues Emergency Alert
As officers worked to locate the man, Albany State University sent an emergency notification telling students to stay inside their rooms. The alert described the suspect as a white man wearing a purple shirt and warned that he was believed to be armed.
The lockdown was a precaution intended to reduce the risk to students and others while police searched the surrounding area. Officials emphasized that the reported domestic incident occurred near the university rather than originating on campus.
Subsequent media reports indicated that the shelter-in-place order was lifted. However, the information provided does not establish whether the suspect was arrested or otherwise located.
Investigation and Public Safety
Several key details remained unclear in the initial reporting, including whether anyone was injured, the circumstances of the reported gunshot and the suspect’s status after he fled.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Albany Police Department at 229-431-2100 or submit a tip through the department’s mobile application.
The incident underscores how a police response near a university can lead to campus-wide precautions even when the reported threat is not believed to have originated on school property.
Incident Summary: Albany State University issued a precautionary lockdown on October 23, 2026, after a reported domestic disturbance involving a firearm near Broadway Street. Police searched for a suspect who allegedly fled after a gunshot was heard.
Injury Status: Not established in the information provided.
Disclaimer: This report is based on the supplied account of the incident. Allegations about the people involved, the circumstances of the gunshot and the suspect’s status should be treated as provisional unless confirmed by police or other reliable official updates.
Leave a Reply