No evidence of armed suspect or shots fired at New Jersey’s Monmouth University; curling iron mistaken for weapon: Police

WEST LONG BRANCH, New Jersey — A shelter-in-place order at a New Jersey university has been lifted after nearly four and a half hours of commotion and confusion.

Students, faculty, and staff at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, had been sheltering in place since around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday evening, over reports of a possible armed suspect and shots fired.

Police are now saying there is no evidence of that.

Authorities now say this was a mistake. After interviews, they found the person of interest was carrying a curling iron that was mistaken for a weapon.