Developing Story: Gunshots Fired Near Brooklyn College Campus [UPDATED]

Developing Story: Gunshots Fired Near Brooklyn College Campus [UPDATED]
(Photo by Mike Wright, Midwood-Flatbush News)

Shortly after 4 pm, gunshots were heard outside the Brooklyn College campus near Campus Road and Amersfort Place.

The police have apprehended two individuals, NYPD confirmed.

The college official also confirmed that the Brooklyn College campus was not on lockdown.

“I looked down the street to see if any cars were coming, but out of nowhere the cars coming to me stopped in the middle of the street,” said Riya Alexander who was about to cross the street. “It seemed very strange to me and I got a chill down my back so I stepped back into sidewalk and stood next to the campus security guard. He stood there alert as if he felt something wrong too.”

Alexander then proceeded to run towards the tables outside the Library Cafe. According to her, campus security was allowing students from Midwood High School run inside the campus.

“As soon as the first gunshot went off, everyone ran and I almost got trampled trying to go back inside the campus,” Alexander said. “After waiting five minutes, I asked the guard if I could cross the street to go home and he said sure, and asked another guard to walk me down the block.”

According to Alexander, the guard called the police and “called for a campuswide lockdown,” she said.

“There was no traffic, there wasn’t an accident, there wasn’t even any yelling or cursing between the two cars,” Alexander said. “It just seemed very sudden of him to stop the car in the middle of the street, hop out, and pop on the car behind him.”

We will keep updating this story as more information becomes available.

(Photo by Mike Wright, Midwood-Flatbush News)

UPDATED: May 23, 7:30 pm— The third suspect is still at large and under investigation, confirmed NYPD, the weapon that was recovered was a handgun.

Shortly after the incident, the CUNY Alert system notified students and faculty: “GUN SHOTS IN VICINITY.”

There seems to be some confusion among Brooklyn College students as to whether the campus is on lockdown:

“Perpetrators had been apprehended and third suspect was identified, so there is no threat to somebody on campus or going off campus,” said Director of Public Safety and Campus Security Donald Wenz.

According to a college official, two exits (Whitehead Hall and Student Center) are still closed at this time due to police activity.