Washu all-clear after police find no one with a weapon on campus
washu sent text alerts after multiple police jurisdictions responded to a report of an armed person on the Danforth campus on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Officers searched buildings Tuesday morning and ultimately found no one carrying a weapon, and students received an "all clear" text by 10: 25 a. m.
Multiple departments, including St. Louis, University City and Clayton, join search
Police from St. Louis, University City and Clayton were among the multiple jurisdictions that answered the report of an armed person on Washington University’s main campus. University City police officers were specifically among those responding, and a City of St. Louis tactical SWAT team officer also took part in the response as officers began their searches.
Washu text alerts timeline: first alert at 9: 18 a. m., all clear by 10: 25 a. m.
The campus community received the first text alert at 9: 18 a. m. after several police departments began searching buildings on campus following a report just after 9: 15 a. m. About 10: 05 a. m., officers were returning to their cars near campus and packing up equipment; by 10: 25 a. m., text alerts sent to students and staff delivered an "all clear, " saying officers did not find anyone with a weapon.
Search operations included long guns, a SWAT officer and a helicopter
As officers started searching, many were carrying long guns. A City of St. Louis tactical SWAT team officer was among those who responded on the ground, and a police helicopter circled Washington University while searches were under way. Teams focused on Washington University buildings on the Danforth campus, west of Skinker Boulevard.
Outcome on the Danforth campus: nothing found and response wound down
Officers who searched Washington University buildings Tuesday morning found no one carrying a weapon and ultimately found nothing related to the report. By midmorning, officers were packing equipment and returning to their vehicles, and the university's text alerts relayed an "all clear" to students and staff at 10: 25 a. m.
What is known and what remains unclear in the provided context
The sequence of times and agency involvement — a report after 9: 15 a. m., first campus text at 9: 18 a. m., officers packing up around 10: 05 a. m., and an all-clear text at 10: 25 a. m. — is documented. Details that are unclear in the provided context include the identity of the person who made the original report and any follow-up actions by the departments beyond packing up equipment.
