Campus Alert Archive
FLC

Snapchat Post Shuts Down Durango Campus as 'Joke' Threat Triggers Multi-Hour Lockdown

COthreat of violenceemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado was closed and placed into lockdown on December 15, 2021 after a 20-year-old Colorado School of Mines student posted a Snapchat video captioned 'FLC getting shot up tomorrow,' which was reported to campus police. Two suspects were arrested and no weapons were found; the suspect claimed it was a joke. The campus reopened at approximately 2:05 PM MT after a lockdown lasting nearly three hours.

Alerts
4
Response
31 min
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Fort Lewis College
Public Bachelors · CO
~3,500 studentsSkyhawk Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

4 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 ALERTFacebook
Approximate reconstruction227 chars
A threat has been made against the FLC campus. Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking students and employees NOT to come to campus today until further notice. Students who live on campus should remain in their buildings.

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

Reconstructed from Durango Herald reporting on the Facebook announcement posted at approximately 6:15 AM MT
Off-campus students were told not to come to campus; on-campus residents were asked to shelter in their buildings
Campus closure announced before the formal lockdown period that began at 11:23 AM MT
UPDATESMS+5h 8m
Approximate reconstruction109 chars
Skyhawk Alert: FLC campus is in lockdown. Remain in your building. Do not leave. Law enforcement is on scene.

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

Reconstructed from Durango Herald reporting that students received Skyhawk Alert texts placing campus in lockdown at 11:23 AM MT
Lockdown began after law enforcement arrived to sweep the campus for the suspect
FLC uses the Skyhawk Alert system for emergency notifications via text and email
UPDATESMS+5h 49m
Approximate reconstruction121 chars
Skyhawk Alert: Suspect has been arrested. Campus remains in lockdown while law enforcement continues to sweep the campus.

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

Reconstructed based on Durango Herald reporting that FLC was notified of suspect arrest at 12:04 PM MT
Campus remained in lockdown for additional sweep even after arrest notification
ALL CLEARSMS+7h 50m
Approximate reconstruction122 chars
Skyhawk Alert: The campus lockdown has been lifted. Campus facilities will reopen shortly. Thank you for your cooperation.

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

Reconstructed based on Durango Herald reporting that the lockdown was lifted at approximately 2:05 PM MT via Skyhawk Alert
Total lockdown duration was approximately 2 hours 42 minutes (11:23 AM to 2:05 PM MT)
Context

Background

Fort Lewis College is a public liberal arts college in Durango, Colorado, with approximately 3,500 students and a strong Indigenous student enrollment serving tribes throughout the Southwest. On December 15, 2021, a Snapchat video captioned 'FLC getting shot up tomorrow' was posted by Bailey Hannan, a 20-year-old student at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Hannan told investigators the post was a joke intended for his girlfriend. Law enforcement identified and arrested Hannan in the parking lot of a store on College Drive near campus; a second person was also taken into custody. No weapons were found on either suspect or in Hannan's vehicle. Despite the non-credible nature of the threat, FLC President Tom Stritikus publicly called it incredibly serious and 'deserving of a felony', criticizing prosecutors for charging it only as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The case highlighted the tension between deterrence and proportionality in campus threat law enforcement, especially for social-media-posted threats that lack any operational component.
Analysis

Key Findings

Campus was closed from 6:15 AM and in formal lockdown from 11:23 AM to 2:05 PM MT -- nearly a full day disrupted by a Snapchat post
Suspect was a student at a different institution (Colorado School of Mines), not an FLC student
FLC president publicly criticized prosecutors for charging the offense as a misdemeanor rather than a felony
FLC uses the Skyhawk Alert system for emergency mass notifications via text and email
Outcome
Bailey Hannan, 21, a Colorado School of Mines student, was arrested on one count of interference with staff, faculty or students of an educational institution (Class 1 misdemeanor). A second suspect was also taken into custody. No weapons were found.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Fort Lewis College campus closes after receiving a threat on social media - The Durango Herald
    durangoherald.com
  2. News
    A threat on social media locked down Fort Lewis College Wednesday - KSUT Public Radio
    ksut.org
  3. News
    The Fort Lewis College threat suspect is being charged with a misdemeanor - KSJD
    ksjd.org
Tags
social-media-threatsnapchatgun-threathoaxlockdowncoloradodurangosmall-collegemisdemeanor-chargecross-institutionHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion