Virginia Tech campus alert lifted

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BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Normal activities resumed at Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus Thursday and university officials lifted a campus alert following a report of a possible gunman.

"Police have not received nor discovered additional information about a person possibly carrying a weapon beyond that reported this morning," the university said on its Web site. "The university community may resume normal campus activity. Only Blacksburg campus classes have been canceled today."

Even though the campus alert was lifted, a "large police presence" would remain on campus and the university suggests "people remain vigilant" and report suspicious activity to campus police, the post said.

University officials recommended that students, employees and others on campus remain indoors, canceled classes and urged students not to come to the campus after receiving word of a man possibly carrying a gun near a dorm.

Three juveniles attending a camp at the university reported seeing a white male "holding what may have been a handgun" that was covered by either a cloth or clothing, the university Web site said.

"There have been no other sightings" since the initial one, the post said.

Law enforcement officers from the campus police department, the Blacksburg and Christiansburg police departments, the Virginia State Police and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office were searching for the subject.

In 2007, a lone gunman opened fire on the Virginia Tech campus, killing 32 people and wounding 25 others before committing suicide.