Reports of shots fired at UC Berkeley Clark Kerr campus track prompts lockdown

BERKELY, Calif. - Students were alerted to reports of shots fired at the University of California, Berkeley's Clark Kerr Campus track Thursday morning, according to the university's warning system.

An alert issued at about 7:15 a.m. advised the community to steer clear of the Clark Kerr Campus and other nearby areas, including the Hillside Campus, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, UC Botanical Garden, Lawrence Hall of Science, Space Sciences Laboratory, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area, while a search was underway.

By 1:41 p.m., the university announced the search around Clark Kerr Track and Hillside Campus had concluded. The university also said there was no longer any threat to the campus locations.

Authorities were looking for a suspect, described by witnesses as a white man wearing a black shirt, black pants, and a red backpack. The suspect’s hair is described as "bleached" with possible red or orange highlights, according to university police.

A KTVU reporter saw several Berkeley police cars and vans on campus.

Despite the situation, the reporter described the mood on campus as relatively calm.

Aerial footage showed law enforcement focused on a home in the Berkeley hills, though it is unclear if that was tied to the incident at UC Berkeley.

University of California spokesperson Roqua Montez said no injuries were reported.

The fall semester at UC Berkeley is set to begin Aug. 21.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact UCPD at (510) 642-6760.