All-Clear Given at Washington University Danforth Campus After Report of Armed Person

University City police officers were among multiple jurisdictions responding to a report of an armed person on washington university danforth campus on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, and after a morning search officers found no one carrying a weapon.

Washington University Danforth Campus: where it happened

The incident occurred on the Danforth campus, west of Skinker Boulevard, and was treated as a campuswide safety response on the main campus in St. Louis. A City of St. Louis tactical SWAT team officer responded as part of the operation.

Timeline of the response

Several police departments began searching buildings on campus after 9: 15 a. m. The first text alert to students and staff went out at 9: 18 a. m. Officers were still active on campus through the morning; about 10: 05 a. m. officers were returning to their cars near campus and packing up equipment. By 10: 25 a. m., the university’s text alerts gave students an all-clear, saying that officers did not find anyone with a weapon.

Agencies and tactics deployed

Police from St. Louis, Clayton and University City were among the departments that responded. Officers were carrying long guns as they began searches of buildings, and a police helicopter circled the main campus during the response. Nothing was found during the search.

What authorities announced and what remains unclear

• University text alerts were sent to students and staff beginning at 9: 18 a. m.
• Multiple jurisdictions, including University City police officers, took part in the response after a reported armed person.
• By 10: 25 a. m., text alerts relayed an all-clear, and officers had not found anyone carrying a weapon.
• It is unclear in the provided context what prompted the initial report or who made it.

Immediate aftermath and public note

Officers packed up equipment near campus around 10: 05 a. m., and text alerts later communicated that searches had concluded without finding a weapon. The response included visible tactical elements such as a tactical team officer and a hovering police helicopter. The university community received the all-clear text messages at 10: 25 a. m.

Because the account is limited to the facts provided here, further details about the origin of the report and any follow-up actions are unclear in the provided context.