Villanova University students were urged to shelter in place overnight after a man who threatened a SEPTA train conductor with a gun ran toward campus.
The suburban Philadelphia campus sent out a notice to students around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday:
"Radnor Police have received a report of a robbery with a firearm on the R100 Commuter Train," the alert read. "The incident occurred approximately 30 minutes ago."
The man produced a gun from his backpack and tried to rob a Norristown High Speed Line train conductor, the Nova alert said.
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SEPTA later clarified what allegedly happened:
"On Tuesday around 10:30 p.m., there was a fare dispute on an inbound Norristown High Speed Line train at Villanova Station," SEPTA's statement said. "The male suspect got off the train and kicked the door. He then showed a gun and tapped it on the glass before running away."
No one was hurt in the incident.
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After he got off the train at the Villanova Station near the Commons, the armed man was seen on foot fleeing over the pedestrian bridge near Aldwyn Lane, the university alert said.
The university lifted the shelter-in-place order shortly after 6 a.m. and said that classes would take place as normal Wednesday.
"Police searched the area on and around campus throughout the night but did not locate the suspect," NOVA said in the Wednesday morning alert. "We therefore do not believe that he is still in the area. Additionally, there is no information to suggest that he ever entered any University buildings, which were locked at the time of the incident."
Radnor Township police in a statement obtained by NBC10's newsgathering partners at KYW Newsradio said that an extensive search of the campus and surrounding streets didn't result in an arrest.
"There is no threat to the University or Radnor community at this time," police said.
Radnor Township police continued to investigate and asked anyone with info to call them at 610-688-0503.
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