‘I was jumping over tables, trying to get to a safe place,’ University of Arkansas students react after active shooter hoax

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas’ campus turned into chaos after many students were alerted about a possible active shooter near Mullins Library.

Saxon Pound, a freshman at the university, said everyone around her began to panic when they got the alert. 

“It was scary, it was really scary because we heard that there was a shooter like right outside of the dorm,” Pound said.

Anthony White, another freshman, said he was just a building over from the library. 

“Out of nowhere, I see people running and hear people saying ‘run,'” White said.

White said he was jumping over tables as he tried to get to safety.

“They eventually told us to run out of the building. I ran to somebody’s dorm, hid in somebody’s room with a bunch of other people,” White said.

Many students say they didn’t know what to believe. Finley Milliorn says seeing the police swarm around their campus only increased their fear.

“I saw like six or seven cop cars right outside the library, and there’s probably 200 kids flooding out of the library. There are guys running with AR-15s,” Milliorn described. 

Many students say they begin contacting their families, unsure as to how things would end.

“I texted my brother, he was at school, and I told him I loved him, and it was kind of scary,” Pound said.

Fayetteville police are calling this all a hoax, with no active threats on the campus. Classes were canceled, and many students say the situation was an eye-opener.

“We need actual protocols for this, we need people with training because nobody knew what to do,” White said. 

“I would totally hope that U Ark maybe comes up with some safety routes or protocols for next time,” Milliorn said.