Students and staff at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul were shaken this week when the campus went into lockdown after a nearby shooting. The incident happened on Thursday afternoon and caused confusion and fear across the school community.
According to police, a man shot at his mother near the university. The shooting took place just blocks away from campus buildings. Although no one on campus was hurt, the university quickly sent out an emergency alert warning students and staff to stay inside and lock their doors.
“We got a text that said there was an active shooter situation,” said Jasmine Lee, a junior at the university. “I was in class, and the professor locked the door right away. We sat in silence waiting for updates.”
The man involved in the shooting was identified by St. Paul Police as 37-year-old Marcus Dillard. Officers say he shot at his mother during an argument and then fled the scene. Thankfully, she was not seriously hurt. Police searched the area for about an hour before finding and arresting Dillard near East Seventh Street.
As the search continued, students remained in locked classrooms and offices. Some hid under desks. Others tried to reach their families to let them know they were safe. University staff also followed emergency procedures, helping keep everyone calm and informed.
St. Paul Police confirmed that the shooter was never on campus. However, the university took the threat seriously to protect students and faculty. The lockdown was lifted once Dillard was taken into custody.
“We are thankful that no one on campus was injured,” said Dr. Ginny Arthur, the university president. “We know this was frightening, but our students, staff, and local police handled the situation with care and professionalism.”
After the lockdown ended, counselors were made available to anyone who needed to talk about what happened. Several students said they appreciated how fast the university acted.
“I was scared at first, but it helped that the school kept sending messages with updates,” said David Reyes, a freshman. “They didn’t just leave us in the dark.”
Police say Dillard will face charges, including attempted murder and illegal use of a firearm. He is expected to appear in court early next week.
This incident has also renewed conversations around safety at colleges and universities. Metropolitan State says it will review its emergency response plan to see if any changes are needed.
For now, students are back to their classes, but many say they’ll never forget the moment they were told to shelter in place.
“I hope nothing like this ever happens again,” said Jasmine. “It made me realize how quickly things can change.”
The university is encouraging students and staff to sign up for emergency alerts and know what to do in case of future threats.
