Reports of gunshots at Sam Wilson Hall on the campus of East Tennessee State University were sent out in a campus emergency alert at 9:31 a.m. Tuesday morning, but turned out to be a false alarm, according to university officials.

The alert was raised in response to a student’s report of unfamiliar noises, later identified as coming from the construction of a new building next to Sam Wilson Hall. Campus authorities say there was no threat to the campus and no casualties.

“Although this incident turned out to be a false alarm, I am very proud of the campus and the way everyone responded quickly,” ETSU President Brian Noland said in an email to all students, faculty and staff on campus. “Today’s incident reminded us how important it is to be informed about how each of us should respond in an emergency situation. Your alertness and quick response are critical in situations like this.”

“I want to thank the faculty and staff at Sam Wilson Hall for their deliberate actions this morning to ensure due care was taken in the face of an obvious threat,” Noland continued. “I also want to thank our public safety personnel for their quick and immediate response. During these uncertain times, we are fortunate to have an outstanding public safety team at ETSU.”

At 9:37 a.m., after the first warning, the all-clear was given.

Shortly thereafter, campus life seemed to have returned to normal. At around 10 a.m., students were entering and leaving Sam Wilson Hall as usual.

Further updates will be published in the East Tennessean as they become available.