Police:

Gunman sighting was a hoax

An apparent student hoax led to an 82-minute lockdown at Appalachian State Monday as police searched for a reported gunman who never existed.

Around 3 p.m., ASU student Matthew Haney told police he came home to his apartment near Hill Street behind the Holmes Convocation Center to find a masked man.

“I came home and found a guy in my apartment. He was by my TV. I think he was trying to steal it,” Haney said in a video interview.

Haney, a senior English major, claimed the armed suspect wore a black mask, black Pink Floyd T-shirt, dark jacket, red and green tennis shoes and blue jeans. Haney also claimed the man pointed a small, black pistol at him and both men fled. The student said the suspect ran into the woods and Haney drove to the apartment’s management office to make a police report.

“The first thing that was in my mind was to get somewhere where there’s people,” Haney said in the interview.

At noon on Tuesday, Boone Police detective Matt Stevens released a statement announcing that Haney admitted to fabricating his account following a morning interview. Haney’s false report led to the first lockdown in ASU history.

“No armed or masked suspect was involved at any incident at the victim’s address,” Stevens said.
“Subsequent witness sightings of an unarmed and unmasked man who matched the physical description given are now known to have been unnecessary and unrelated.”

During the Tuesday interview, Haney told police he came home to a damaged door. Stevens said Haney reported the damage to his landlord and said someone had attempted to break in. His story escalated from that point.

Police had questioned Haney again during the Monday-night lockdown and he maintained his story, Steven said.

Stevens said he felt Haney did not intend to cause the lockdown and he has no criminal history. "I don't feel this report was made maliciously," he said.

Stevens said Haney faces misdemeanor charges of filing a false police report.

ASU police chief Gunther Doerr said a copy of Haney’s arrest report would be forwarded to the student conduct office and be reviewed from that point. Possible specific actions are unclear at this time.

At 5:10 p.m., all campus buildings were locked down and police were still searching for the gunman.

On Monday, vice chancellor for student development Cindy A. Wallace told the Appalachian student newspaper the apartment’s close proximity to campus warranted the campus response.

“The confirmation of a gun made us believe that we needed to act the way we did and I hope people view that as a prudent way to respond,” Wallace said.

All Monday evening classes were canceled and football practice at Kidd Brewer Stadium was suspended.
Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore called the players together and told them they were on lockdown halfway into practice.

After a half-hour delay, the team was allowed to leave Owens Fieldhouse around 6:30 p.m.
“It’s just like I told them, you've got to be cautious about stuff like that,” Moore said.

“You can't just take it for granted. You’ve got to be alert and certainly don’t antagonize anybody. Just go eat at your training table and go home.”

At 6:35, campus officials canceled the lockdown.

Doerr said he felt the lockdown was appropriate based in the information at hand.

Just a few hours before the incident, campus officials sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff announcing plans for an emergency messaging service.

Story by Jason Reagan and Melanie Davis

Sports editor Steve Behr contributed to this report.