Williamstown Police Looking for Suspects After Cole Avenue Shooting
UPDATE: A notification from the town has indicated that the general public is not in danger. Williams College Sunday afternoon ended its lockdown. Single victim was taken away from the scene by ambulance.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — One person was shot with a firearm at 330 Cole Ave. on Sunday morning, triggering an hour-long lockdown of Williams College and a manhunt for an armed suspect.
A reverse 911 call from the town at 12:39 Sunday afternoon indicated that Williamstown Police and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident.
"At this time, based on evidence seen, this appears to be a specific, targeted incident," the reverse 911 call indicated. "The general public not in danger at this time. This [call] is for public awareness only."
The robocall indicates that the shooting took place at 10:15 a.m.
Williams announced the lockdown in an 11:38 text (and shortly after an email) to the college community. The college sent a text to its community at 12:55 p.m. saying it was ending the lockdown.
Williamstown Police on Sunday afternoon confirmed the lone victim in the shooting was alive when transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
The Berkshire District Attorney's office Sunday at about 4 p.m. issued a news release saying the victim is "expected to survive."
According to the morning email sent to the college community, police were investigating the incident and "Suspects are at large, armed and considered dangerous."
The email alert said to remain indoors and not admit anyone into college buildings without identification.
"If off campus, stay away," read the email, signed by college's director of campus safety and director of emergency management.
The college said its Campus Security Service is working with the the Williamstown Police Department. The email indicated that updates will be posted on williams.edu or the college's Twitter account.
Williams College's final exams for the fall semester ended on Monday, Dec. 16. The winter break for faculty and staff began on Friday, Dec. 20. The only college building scheduled to be open to the public on Sunday, the Williams College Museum of Art, shut down for the day after the campus lockdown was ordered.
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