According to Buffalo Police Department, officers found no evidence of a person with a firearm at the downtown campus on Ellicott Street.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A lockdown at SUNY Erie Community College prompted a major law enforcement response Thursday morning after reports of a possible armed individual, but authorities later confirmed there was no gunman on campus.

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According to Buffalo Police Department, officers found no evidence of a person with a firearm at the downtown campus on Ellicott Street. The situation, which unfolded late in the morning, led to a heavy police presence and a temporary lockdown that left students and faculty shaken.

Earlier in the day, Mark Poloncarz issued a public alert urging people to avoid the area surrounding the college, including North Division and Swan streets, as well as Washington and Elm streets. The warning came as multiple agencies responded, including the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and NFTA Police.

Around 11 a.m., witnesses reported seeing a SWAT team enter the building, while dozens of patrol vehicles lined nearby streets. One student said that by the time he exited, officers were spread across several floors conducting a sweep.

Inside the building, classes were interrupted by emergency alerts ordering an immediate lockdown.

“All of a sudden there’s 15 to 20 cop cars out here. I’m wondering what’s going on,” said Brian Jank, a professor of sociology and psychology at SUNY Erie. “One of my students received an email saying there was a dangerous situation. We locked down the room. Thankfully, ECC trains us well. I pushed a table against the door to keep myself and my students safe.”

Jank said officers later entered the hallway and attempted to open classroom doors.

“They had military-grade weapons and we’re wondering what was going on,” he added.

College officials praised how the campus community handled the tense situation. John Reinholz, Vice President of College Safety and Security, said the response followed established safety protocols.

“They responded in an outstanding way,” Reinholz said. “From what I saw in the emergency operations center, students, faculty, and staff remained calm during what was understandably an upsetting situation. Everything went as we would hope it would go.”

In a statement, Buffalo Police said the response was carried out “out of an abundance of caution,” with SWAT and K-9 units assisting in securing the building. Authorities confirmed there is no indication the call about a firearm was legitimate, but the investigation remains ongoing.

Despite the all-clear, the incident left a lasting impact on those inside. Several students and faculty members said the experience was unsettling, highlighting the emotional toll of emergency situations, even when they turn out to be false alarms.