URI gunman scare was false alarm, authorities say

URI gunman scare was false alarm, authorities say

The debate on officials carrying firearms began back in 1977, and on Thursday, URI's campus police were the first to respond to reports of a gunman in Chafee Hall. Photos: Lockdown at URI campus in Kingston; More: Professor 'screamed for everyone to

BREAKING: State and local police are responding to the University of Rhode Island for a possible gunman on the Kingston Campus.

I was shocked. I never thought this would happen to me, I've heard a lot of shootings I just never thought this would happen at URI, said URI freshman Ashley Iannoaco.

A University of Rhode Island biology professor screamed for students to evacuate Chaffee Hall after she heard students yelling about an alleged gunman in the building, WPRI.com has confirmed.

Police officials, from left, Major Stephen Baker, of the University of Rhode Island Police Department, Captain Frank Castellone, of the Rhode Island State Police, Chief Vincent Vespia, of South Kingstown Police Department, spoke with the media