Dear Chattanooga State Family,

Just before 10:00 this morning, Chattanooga State Police received a report of a potential gunman on campus who had intent to cause harm. After quickly assessing the credibility of the report, the campus went on lock-down. The Chattanooga Police Department, TN Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, Chattanooga Fire Department, the FBI, the US Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Red Bank Police Department, the Soddy Daisy Police Department, the Cleveland State Community College Police Department, Hamilton County Park Rangers, and Hamilton County EMS quickly came to our campus to assist our Police Department in their response.

During the course of the lock-down, law enforcement officials determined that the threat was a hoax. After confirming the campus was safe, the College lifted the lockdown.

I am truly grateful that the situation today was not an actual active shooter event. I am proud of our Campus Police for their quick response to this potentially dangerous situation. I am also grateful to everyone at Chattanooga State for quickly responding to the lockdown message and for keeping themselves and the campus community safe.

There will be many lessons learned during our debriefing exercises, and our College will be safer and stronger as a result of what we learned from today’s situation.

While the College will be open on Friday, August 30, we ask supervisors and faculty to allow flexibility with employees and students. Counseling will be available for students in the Student Support Center and for employees in the Belonging Center.