After my 12:30PM class today, we were all packing up to leave the class when the monitor above our door (a new security device that has been placed in every single classroom on campus) read something like, "Sounds of Gunshots heard in Pritchard Hall.  Police are securing the building, no one in or out."  My class, made up of almost all seniors and some juniors who were all present during the events of April 16, all gasped at the news feed.  Could this really be happening again?

I later checked my email to get the full update. 

"Police are investigating reported sounds of gunshots in Pritchard Hall. Building is secured. No access in or out. Police searching room by room.

Virginia Tech PD and BlacksburgPD are investigating reported sounds of gunshots in Pritchard Hall. Building is secured. No access in or out. Police searching room by room. Two people reported hearing sounds like gunfire at about 1 pm."

That meant the school was not yet on lockdown.  I continued to go to a dining hall, which was actually located close to Pritchard Hall and watched for updates.  Residents of Pritchard Hall that were not in the Hall during the dorm's lockdown, all stood outside of the dormitory, waiting to be allowed in.  Security stood at every entrance of the Hall to ensure that no one leaves or gets in before the investigation is complete. 

Finally, at about 2:20PM another email went out. 

"Police now believe that sounds from Pritchard were NOT gunfire. Investigation still ongoing.
Police have interviewed witnesses who saw and heard people, possibly students, exploding something outside Pritchard Hall.

At about 12:50 p.m. Thursday VTPD received a report of sounds like gunfire in the vicinity of Pritchard Hall. Police immediately secured the building and began a floor by floor and room by room search. During the course of the investigation , eyewitnesses reported seeing people, possibly students exploding firecrackers or something else in or near a dumpster near Pritchard. Police have found no evidence of gunfire from within or outside the building and believe the noises likely came from something other than gunfire."

Many classes during this duration have been canceled.  Right now, I am sitting in my 3:30PM class, waiting for it to begin.  The monitor just beeped three times as I was writing this article.  It said, "Alert complete."  And then it went back to the usual date and time status. 

When I heard about the first alert about the gunshots, my heart stopped.  For a few moments there, I was filled with the same emotions of unsureness I had felt on April 16.  But as time went on, I realized that this time, while it was just a false alarm, I felt safe.  Within just minutes of the alert, it seemed as though everyone knew about what was going on.  Alumni have also been informed since my brother and friends have called to check up on me.  I felt safe because the alarm system that has periodically been tested since 2007 was finally put to the test, and it worked.  And we can move on with our day knowing that if this ever happens again, Virginia Tech knows how to go about the situation the best way to ensure that everyone is safe.

We are Virginia Tech, and we have prevailed.