St. Thomas shelter-in-place lifted; police say no ongoing threat

📌 Key Facts

A shelter-in-place order was issued early Monday afternoon for the University of St. Thomas' St. Paul campus.
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the shelter-in-place was later lifted; St. Paul police said there is no ongoing threat.
St. Paul police told FOX 9 that everyone is safe and that there was never a danger.
University and police officials have not yet detailed what triggered the scare; those specifics remain unknown.
These updates were reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul on 2026-02-09T19:09:38+00:00.

📊 Relevant Data

In 2024, there were 0 arrests and 1 disciplinary referral for weapons carrying or possessing on the University of St. Thomas St. Paul campus, with no such incidents reported in 2022 or 2023.

ANNUAL SECURITY AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT — University of St. Thomas

St. Paul was on track for a 70 percent drop in homicides by the end of 2025 compared to previous years, with solved crime rates exceeding 70 percent.

St. Paul solved more crimes, had drastically fewer homicides in 2025 — MPR News

In Minnesota in 2024, there were 98 Black homicide victims and 50 White homicide victims out of 170 criminal homicides, resulting in a per capita victimization rate of approximately 24 per 100,000 for Black residents (7% of population) compared to 1.1 per 100,000 for White residents (76% of population).

2024 BCA Uniform Crime Report — Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

In September 2025, multiple U.S. colleges, including at least eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities, implemented lockdowns due to hoax threats of violence.

HBCU Lockdowns: At Least Eight Universities Locked Down Over Potential Threats — Forbes

💬 Social Media Perspectives

Left-leaning users on X often highlight this incident as another example of America's gun violence epidemic, arguing that even false alarms underscore the need for comprehensive gun control reforms to ensure campus safety.
Right-leaning perspectives frequently praise the swift response by police and university officials, asserting that armed security and Second Amendment rights are essential for protecting against real threats rather than restricting them.
Centrist voices emphasize the importance of waiting for full details from authorities before drawing conclusions, expressing relief that the situation resolved without harm and calling for improved communication in such events.
Some left-leaning commentators focus on the emotional toll on students from repeated shelter-in-place orders, advocating for enhanced mental health resources and preventive measures against gun-related incidents.
Right-leaning users criticize mainstream media for potentially overhyping the scare without facts, suggesting it fuels unnecessary fear and diverts attention from actual crime issues in urban areas like St. Paul.

Based on 2 sources

📰 Source Timeline (2)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

February 09, 2026

7:16 PM

Shelter in place order issued at University of St. Thomas following reports of armed man

Twincities by Frederick Melo

7:09 PM

University of St. Thomas shelter-in-place order: Police say everyone is safe

FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Howard.Thompson@fox.com (Howard Thompson)

New information:

St. Paul police on scene told FOX 9 that everyone is safe and there was never a danger.
The shelter-in-place was issued early Monday afternoon for the St. Paul campus, but circumstances remain unclear.
University and police officials have not yet detailed what triggered the scare; FOX 9 notes those specifics are still unknown.