A malfunctioning emergency console at College of the Mainland (COM) sent false shooting alerts Wednesday, Oct. 7, that incorrectly named the college's League City site.
The alerts told people at the League City instructional site to "Run, Hide, Fight," language associated with active-shooter situations. COM confirmed no shooting or active aggressor situation occurred at either its League City site or its Texas City Main Campus.
"There was no emergency in League City or Texas City," League City Police Department Officer José Ortega told KGTX 7 News, calling the situation a miscommunication.
The incident began around 12:49 p.m. when Texas City police located a vehicle in the parking lot behind the college's Corporate Training Center on the Texas City Main Campus. COM police learned of the vehicle through police radio. A dispatcher had advised that the vehicle was linked to a person reported missing, suicidal and armed.
Based on that information, COM police initiated a precautionary campus lockdown.
Texas City police then found the individual working as a subcontractor at a campus construction site. Officers determined the person was unarmed and posed no danger. An all-clear followed at approximately 1:14 p.m.
During the response, an emergency notification console fired off alerts that did not match the message campus officials had selected. The false alerts described a shooting at the Main Campus and directed people at COM's League City location to take active-shooter precautions. COM issued a corrected notification through its primary emergency system around 1 p.m., before the all-clear.
Jose Salazar of College of the Mainland told KGTX 7 News he was unsure why League City was referenced in the initial alert.
College officials said a preliminary review found a critical malfunction caused the rapid response console to issue messages that did not match the preprogrammed button an operator had pressed. All rapid response touchscreen consoles have been taken out of service until the malfunction is identified and corrected. COM's separate primary emergency notification system remains operational.
In a media advisory, the college acknowledged the false alerts may have caused fear and distress for community members and said it is working to prevent a recurrence. A full diagnostic review will follow, though COM has not announced a timeline.
Texas City Police Department had not responded to KGTX 7 News as of that outlet's publication. Residents with questions about the false alert can contact the League City Police Department.
