Chaos at UMass Boston: Shots fired scare triggers massive police response — here’s what happened
Police secure Times Square after early-morning shooting leaves three injured and a suspect in custody.
The University of Massachusetts Boston was briefly thrust into chaos Thursday afternoon after reports of shots fired prompted a massive police response, building evacuations, and lockdown alerts across the Dorchester campus. Officials later confirmed the scare was unfounded and that no injuries were reported.
The alarm was first raised around 3:45 p.m. near 240 Morrissey Boulevard, with early alerts describing the situation as a “public safety threat” in or near a residence hall attached to the East Building. Students and staff were urged to avoid the area, including the busy Campus Center, as officers moved in.
Dozens of law enforcement personnel — from campus police to Boston officers and Massachusetts State Police troopers — rushed to the scene. Some carried rifles as they entered campus buildings, searching for signs of danger. Helicopter footage showed students and employees being escorted out of classrooms with their hands raised, following police instructions.
UMB Emergency Alert: Police have reported the incident on campus all clear. There is no ongoing threat to the community.
— UMass Boston (@UMassBoston) September 11, 2025
Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, watching the live response, noted the seriousness of the situation: “The officers are still running into one of the university buildings; they have rifles out. It may turn out to be nothing, but from the activity on the ground, they are taking this very seriously.”
Inside, the scare was palpable. One freshman student described barricading a classroom door before police knocked and ordered them to evacuate with caution. Another student recalled confusion as rumors of an active shooter spread, even as officers instructed everyone to avoid residence halls.
BREAKING: Yet another active shooter situation developing at UMass Boston.
This feels like it's getting worse, and it's clear the Trump administration isn't going to do anything about it. pic.twitter.com/g7tqobqnvh
— Devin Duke (@sirDukeDevin) September 11, 2025
Authorities later clarified there was no evidence of an active shooter. Boston EMS confirmed that no one was transported from the scene with injuries. Still, the university canceled all evening classes and activities, leaving thousands of students unsettled.
UMass Boston enrolls over 15,000 students as of Fall 2024, and many of them were caught in the disruption, some even watching from nearby sidewalks and balconies as the scene unfolded. The tense moments reflected the heightened sensitivity around campus safety in the United States, where school shooting threats are treated with utmost urgency.
UMB Emergency Alert: Police have reported the incident on campus all clear. There is no ongoing threat to the community.
— UMass Boston (@UMassBoston) September 11, 2025
By nightfall, the university declared the campus secure. Yet, for many students, the memory of armed officers rushing through hallways and the fear of the unknown remained fresh, fueling ongoing frustration over how common such scares have become in American schools.
#BREAKING: Crowds of students watch on a massive police response at UMass Boston.
State police say they responded for an unconfirmed report of a shooting.
Waiting for more on scene @boston25 pic.twitter.com/he5lRudeaj
— Daniel Coates (@danielcoates_25) September 11, 2025