An argument between two shuttle bus drivers on the Texas Christian University campus led to gunfire and a campus-wide lockdown on Tuesday morning.
Eric Hampton, 52, an employee of Roadrunner Charter, which is contracted by TCU, was arrested after shooting at another shuttle driver following an altercation. The confrontation reportedly happened near Amon G. Carter Stadium on the Fort Worth campus.
Hampton allegedly fired a gun at the other driver but missed. He then hit him with his vehicle before taking off from the scene, reports Dallas News. The other driver was not seriously injured. Hampton’s vehicle was found abandoned off campus and he was arrested shortly after.
Hampton may face charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon on university property.
TCU sent out a tweet at approximately 7:16 a.m., stating, “TCU Alert – Armed person on campus. Seek safe shelter immediately. More updates to follow as available.” Students received text alerts and phone calls saying to seek shelter and alarms also went off on campus.
The Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center in the Fort Worth Independent School District was also placed on lockdown, according to NBC.
The lockdown was lifted a little after 8 a.m. once Hampton was taken into custody. Classes resumed after 12 p.m., according to a follow-up tweet.
Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald says no one was seriously injured. No TCU students were on board either of the shuttles.
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Public Safety Adrian Andrews says all contract workers are thoroughly vetted before being hired.
“This was an anomaly, and we can’t always plan for anomalies,” says Andrews. “We try to mitigate damages as they come, but you can’t prevent everything that’s going to happen.”
The university is discussing potential new safety measures with Roadrunner, which Andrews says may include armed and unarmed guards on shuttle buses for the next few weeks.
Some students believe adding armed guards is an overreaction.
“It’s not like it’s students bringing guns,” says TCU junior Alex Asher. “It’s already people who work here, and you’re going to basically say, ‘Oh, so, since this happened, we might as well have guns on our shuttles all of the time?'”
TCU is a gun-free campus — only police officers are allowed to carry weapons.
