Update: Cal's Clark Kerr Campus Area Gets All-Clear - Lockdown Lifted

Police spent nearly six hours scouing the area for a suspect after a shooting that left no one injured at about 7:40 a.m.

Clark Kerr track /

Updated

A nearly six-hour search for a suspect in a shooting incident at Cal's Clark Kerr campus track ended early Thursday afternoon when police said there was no longer a threat and the lockdown was lifted.

Here's the official statment via Cal's WarnMe emergency alert services, sent to students and staff at 1:42 p.m.:

Update - The focused area search at Clark Kerr Track and Hillside Campus has concluded. It has been determined that there is no longer a known threat to UC Berkeley campus locations. The lockdown has been lifted for all campus areas.

There was no report yet that a suspect had been apprehended, simply that the campus areas near Clark Kerr were clear.

Cal’s football team was just about to begin its morning practice when players left the field at Memorial Stadium in response to a report of shots fired at the nearby Clark Kerr campus track.

According to early reports, the Berkeley police were assisting UC campus police in investigating the situation. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office had drones assisting in the search for a suspect.

The university sent an update to students and staff at 12:21 p.m., which said the suspect still had not been apprehended.

"The armed suspect is still at large as authorities continue search efforts. It is not safe to be outside in the area of Clark Kerr Campus and Hillside Campus [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, UC Botanical Garden, Lawrence Hall of Science, Space Sciences Lab,Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (formerly MSRI), Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area, and Golden Bear Recreation Center]," said the report from the university's WarnMe emergency alert service.

"Until further notice, a lockdown is still in place in those areas and staff should not expect to conduct business as usual today. Continue to avoid the area of Clark Kerr Campus and Hillside Campus, or lockdown/secure in place if you cannot avoid the area."

Cal students were first advised of the situation at 7:54 a.m. by a message sent through the university’s WarnMe system.

Witnesses told police that a man allegedly fired a gun at runners circling the Clark Kerr track around 7:30 a.m., according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Approximately two to three shots were heard at that time. The campus later updated the time of the incident to 12:40 a.m.

There were no reports of anyone being injured.

The football team, whose practice was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., was on the field loosening up and preparing for the start of its formal practice when players and coaches suddenly retreated out of the north end zone tunnel and back to their locker room.

Practice was resheduled for 4:15 p.m., and it will be open to fans, as usual during fall camp.

According to a KRON4 report, authorities were seeking a suspect described by witnesses as a “white male wearing a black shirt, black pants, and a red backpack, according to a campus alert. The suspect’s hair was described as `bleached’ with possible red or orange highlights.”