After shooting just off campus, vice president apologizes for misleading alert
After shooting just off campus, vice president apologizes for misleading alert
At around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, a 25-year-old woman was shot at the corner of Main and Portland Streets, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
MIT police were already present in the area for the Cambridge Carnival, an annual event featuring a parade, international foods, and crafts. An alert was sent to the MIT community warning of an active shooter on campus; the email asked people to seek shelter, and, if confronted by the shooter, to “attack using improvised weapons.” Another message followed a few minutes later stating that the suspect was “not believed to be on campus.”
On Tuesday, Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz apologized for the confusing alerts. The first alert occurred due to an “accidental engagement” of a message pre-scripted for emergencies. At no point on Sunday was there an active shooter on MIT campus.
—Emma Bingham