On Friday, Sept. 25 the University’s Office of Public Safety sent out an advisory to students about a potential incident at The Academy, an off-campus housing building that was recently converted into a dormitory. Students received an email from the University at 6:34 p.m. letting students know that a man had attempted to enter the dormitory multiple times throughout the day, and was stopped by the building’s security each time. Additionally, Public Safety said in the email that it was possible that the individual may have possessed a weapon.
“It was reported that the individual may be in possession of a weapon. JHPD and Public Safety conducted multiple searches of the area and did not locate the individual. JHPD and Public Safety will immediately be increasing presence in the area,” the email from Public Safety stated.
The email also included a description of the suspect. Public Safety specified that the suspect was a man in his late 30s who was approximately six feet tall, and wearing a grey sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and black slippers.
Public Safety did not explicitly confirm whether or not the suspect was actually armed, nor did the office specify a weapon. When The News-Letter reached out to the University for official comment, it also did not confirm whether or not the individual possessed a weapon.
“While there was a report that the person appeared to have a weapon, Public Safety has not confirmed they were armed,” a University spokesperson wrote.
The spokesperson also clarified that Public Safety included information about a possible weapon for the purposes of caution, but neither Public Safety nor the University’s police department were able to track down the suspect. Because of this, Public Safety took steps to increase security presence around campus.
“The Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) and Public Safety conducted multiple searches of the surrounding area but did not locate the individual and have since increased security and continue to investigate. Out of an abundance of caution, JHPD and Public Safety issued a public safety advisory and are coordinating with local law enforcement,” the University spokesperson added.
Neither Public Safety nor JHPD have publicized updates on the case in the days since.
Sophomore Lazina Miah, a resident at The Academy, was informed by security about the suspect when leaving the building. The security guard told her that the suspect was in possession of a firearm about four hours before Public Safety sent out an email. Miah recalled her account in an email to The News-Letter.
“Around 2:40-ish, I was about to leave The Academy for a club interview at Brody. I waved goodbye to the security guard at the front desk when her smile quickly turned to a frown, and she warned me about a man with a gun outside. She told me to wait as she went to the windows, and all I could think was, ‘God, my interview’s at 3:00. I don’t want to be late.’ She then turned to me and said she couldn’t see him, but if I were to see a man with a grey sweater and grey sweatpants, ‘go to the other side of the street immediately,’” Miah wrote.
After Miah had left the building, she confirmed to The News-Letter that she was able to see the suspect, and that she may have seen him with a firearm, but was not certain.
“Trying to be as vigilant as possible, I went outside towards the direction of the main campus, and I saw him on the steps leading up to the academy, dressed in all grey. I think I saw him holding a black handgun near his chest, but in hindsight, I’m not sure if my mind made that up because it was shaken by the information I received [from the security guard]. I didn’t look too closely, and I kept walking, being conscious to keep a far distance,” wrote Miah.
After Miah recounted her experience to The News-Letter, she offered some reflections on the incident, and the broader societal implications they may have.
Miah expressed her opinion that violence is an issue that the entire country faces, and that students should focus on community safety everywhere, instead of solely focusing on the University.
“I think this incident shows that we’re never as far away from violence as we may believe we are. I hope it provokes broader conversations surrounding the political and social realities in this country, and reminds us that we have a civic responsibility to advocate for safe communities, not just for the Hopkins community, but for the Baltimore community and the entire country as a whole,” Miah added.
Additionally, the University spokesperson also emphasized students’ role in keeping the University community safe and highlighted safe practices for students to follow when entering the residence halls.
“As a reminder, we all play a role in keeping ourselves and others safe. For the safety and security of our residential communities, residents should scan their J-Card—physical or electronic—every time they enter their residence hall,” the spokesperson said.
Myra Saeed contributed to the reporting of this article.
