A University of Kentucky alert sent to office phones warning there was an active shooter was incorrect and was sent due to “a technical glitch in the software,” the university said.
Around 10am, a UK Alert – the messaging system used to notify the campus of security and safety information – was sent to the university’s office phones, warning of an active shooter. Shortly afterwards, the university sent a message saying there was “no emergency and no UK Alert”.
“This morning there was a technical glitch in the software as part of testing with our alert system,” British spokesman Jay Blanton said. “As a result, a UK Alert was wrongly sent to the university’s office phones. We don’t believe it was more widely distributed than landline office phones on campus. There is no emergency and no UK Alert. We apologize for the confusion.”
There was a technical glitch with the software this morning. A UK Alert has been wrongly sent to office phones. There is no emergency and no UK Alert.
— University of Kentucky (@universityofky) October 17, 2024
A Herald-Leader reporter who was on campus today for the board of trustees meetings said a message came over the public address system in the Gatton Student Center announcing that the alarm was a false alarm. A student in another part of the Student Center said he did not hear any announcement.
Notifications went out through social media, email and the UK website clarifying that the alert was a false alarm, Blanton said.
