To:

American University Community

From:

Phillip Morse, Assistant Vice President, University Police and Emergency Management

Subject:

Update Regarding Incident Near Jackson Reed High School

This afternoon, DC Metropolitan Police (MPD) reported shots fired in the street outside of Jackson Reed High School in northwest DC. The location is a little more than 1 mile from AU’s main campus.

AUPD works closely with MPD and monitors their alerts and radio updates. When MPD reported the incident, AUPD activated relevant university emergency protocols to support the safety of the AU community.

Safety measures included multiple AU Alerts to the community (via text, email, social media, and university computers) to avoid the area and the lockdown of the Washington College of Law (WCL) campus and the Frequency, an off-campus residential building. AU shuttles to the Tenleytown metro station, which is in the vicinity of the high school, were paused until the situation was resolved. They have now resumed regular service.

After a thorough search of the area, MPD indicated that the shots were exchanged between two vehicles in the street and there is no active threat. There were no injuries reported at the scene and the lockdown has been lifted. There is no indication of any threat to the AU community.

Out of an abundance of caution, AUPD is increasing presence around WCL, the Frequency, and the Tenleytown metro station area, throughout the evening and the weekend.

As a reminder, please make sure your AU Alerts information is up to date so you receive emergency communications.

We will continue to update the community as needed.