The University of Rhode Island
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- A one-ended, cell phone conversation overheard at the University of Rhode Island's main library a day after the campus was shut down due to a reported gunman -- a report now believed to be unfounded -- prompted a renewed alert Monday.
Two students called the campus police around 9:30 Friday night saying they had overheard a man speaking on a cell phone about two hours earlier, said university spokeswoman Linda A. Acciardo and URI Police Maj. Stephen N. Baker, the department's highest-ranked officer. The man was crying "and appeared to be in distress," said Acciardo, adding the talk "did not contain any specific threat."
Acciardo and Baker declined to comment further on what the students said they heard.
Earlier Monday the authorities were asking for help to identify a man who was in the university's library Friday night.
The man, captured on security camera, is described as having a buzz hair cut, clean shaven and is about 6 feet tall, 220 lbs. with a muscular build. He has a receding hair line and appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s. Anyone with information is asked to call the campus police at (401) 874-2121 or the State Police at (401) 444-1000.
"At this time," the authorities said in a statement posted on the university's website, "we have no evidence that there is a connection between the events of last Thursday and the report from the library."
Classes are being held on schedule.
This entry was first posted at 11:55 a.m. and updated.