Campus Alert Archive
FSU

Homecoming Halted: Bomb Threat at Adjacent High School Triggers Active Shooter Lockdown Across Fayetteville State's Campus

NCthreat of violenceemergency notificationmedium confidence
UnfoundedNo evidence of an actual threat was found. The institutional response is documented because the alert communication is identical to what would occur during a real incident.

On the morning of October 9, 2025, Fayetteville State University was placed on lockdown after a bomb threat at the adjacent Cross Creek Early College High School escalated into an active shooter report. FSU Police sent an alert at approximately 11:15 AM EDT warning of an armed subject and directing students to shelter in place. Law enforcement confirmed no active shooter or threat after sweeping the campus, and the lockdown was lifted at 12:04 PM EDT. The incident disrupted the start of homecoming weekend.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Fayetteville State University
Hbcu · NC
~6,500 students
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPush
Approximate reconstruction187 chars
FSU ALERT: An armed subject has been reported on campus. The campus is on lockdown. Shelter in place immediately. Stay inside, lock doors, and stay away from windows until further notice.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from news reports; the alert was sent at approximately 11:15 AM EDT on October 9, 2025
The initial report originated from Cross Creek Early College High School, which is adjacent to the FSU campus, and evolved from a bomb threat into an active shooter report
ALL CLEARPush
Approximate reconstruction165 chars
FSU ALL CLEAR: The lockdown has been lifted. Officers have confirmed there is no active shooter and no ongoing threat to campus. Normal campus activities may resume.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from news reports; the lockdown was lifted at 12:04 PM EDT on October 9, 2025 after law enforcement confirmed no threat
The approximately 50-minute lockdown disrupted the opening of homecoming weekend festivities
Context

Background

On the morning of October 9, 2025, Fayetteville State University was thrust into lockdown as homecoming weekend preparations were underway. The incident began when the FSU Police Department received a report from Cross Creek Early College High School, which is located adjacent to the university campus, about a bomb threat that subsequently evolved into reports of an active shooter. FSU Police activated shelter-in-place protocols, and students were locked inside classrooms while law enforcement swept the campus. Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted with the search. After a thorough sweep, officers confirmed there was no active shooter and no ongoing threat to the campus. The lockdown was lifted at 12:04 PM EDT, approximately 50 minutes after the initial alert. No weapons were found and no injuries were reported. Cumberland County schools near the campus also went on lockdown during the incident. Homecoming weekend activities resumed after the all-clear.
Analysis

Key Findings

The threat originated from an adjacent high school and cascaded to the university, demonstrating how shared campus borders can propagate security incidents
Despite the threat being unfounded, the 50-minute lockdown during homecoming disrupted a major institutional event
The incident contributed to broader conversations about HBCU homecoming security following shootings at other HBCUs in fall 2024
Outcome
No active shooter was found. No weapons were recovered. No injuries were reported. The lockdown lasted approximately 50 minutes and was lifted at 12:04 PM EDT. Homecoming activities resumed.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Fayetteville State University campus given all clear after gunman reports prompt lockdown (CBS 17)
    cbs17.com
  2. News
    Lockdown lifted at Fayetteville State University after active shooter investigation (WCNC)
    wcnc.com
  3. News
    Lockdown lifted at Fayetteville State University after no threat found (ABC 11)
    abc11.com
  4. Source
    Fayetteville State Lifts Lockdown After Active-Shooter Investigation (HBCU Buzz)
    hbcubuzz.com
  5. News
    Threats led to lockdowns at Fayetteville State University and Cumberland County schools (CityView NC)
    cityviewnc.com
Tags
threat-of-violencehbcunorth-carolinahomecomingunfounded-threatadjacent-schoolcampus-lockdownbomb-threat-escalationUnfounded
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion