The sound of police sirens echoed through Lismore yesterday while Southern Cross University went into emergency lockdown, along with local schools. 

While staff and students were in lockdown, Lismore resident Shea McCaughey and some friends visiting the uni didn’t want to be stuck there - and they made a break for town.

Over an hour later, police in Lismore’s CBD pulled over their car and blocked Magellan Street to other traffic while their car was searched. 

Shea described the event as it happened to The Lismore App.

Shea McCaughey and his friends on Magellan Street after their car was stopped and searched by police while the university was in lockdown.

“We were standing outside the uni library when we saw a couple of cop cars pull up at the security box and we were wondering what was going on,” Shea said. 

“Then we saw more cop cars flying up the one-way street to the front of the library and some police jumped out and said ‘ladies and gentleman, get into a classroom right now and lock yourself in.

“Two of my friends ran to library, but we went nah, let’s get the hell out of here and we got into the car and reversed back and went out the one-way street

“My friend who worked at the uni stayed there and they got stuck there for five hours.

“There was a paddy wagon patrolling right behind us and we went into town and did our business there."

 Shea said one and a half hours later, he and three other friends were driving down Magellan Street in Lismore’s CBD when a highway patrol car pulled them over, and other patrol cars blocked off the ends of the street to other traffic.

“We were asked to exit the vehicle and the police searched the car and checked our IDs,” he said.

“They asked what we were doing and they went through my friend’s messages on his phone to see if we had a valid reason for being at the uni earlier.

“When the police checked the licence of my friend who was driving, they found that his mum had a firearm licence and said they were going to visit her, so he quickly rang his mum to tell her.

Police block Magellan Street as they question the car driver and search the car.

“They went out and checked it over then cleared it and we were ok because we had nothing to do with it."

Shea said the police didn’t say why they began searching the car, but that he knew something had happened at the university and thought that might have been why.

“I was worried about what was happening,” he said.

“I thought it was good that the police were following up on a lead – they probably checked cameras because we left the uni driving the wrong way on a one way street.

“It was reassuring they are able to respond that way - but it took them a while to jam us downtown.

“It was a conflicting and invasive experience.”

Threatening phone call

The lockdown was the result of a threatening phone call made to Richmond District Police at 1.30pm yesterday - which triggered a massive police response in Lismore.

Over 70 local police, Tactical Operations police, the Negotiation Unit, the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command converged on the Lismore university campus. 

The campus was checked and cleared by police, building by building, until all students, staff and visitors were allowed to leave about 6.30pm.

While there was initial confusion as to the cause of the lockdown - with staff and students using electronic communication and social media to speculate that there was a gunman on campus – police found no one with a gun on site.

Southern Cross University thanks NSW Police

Southern Cross University Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker issued a statement on Facebook after the lockdown at the university yesterday, saying “Lismore campus is safe and well after enduring an emergency lasting several hours”.

“Police Command … handed control of the campus back to the University after an emergency lockdown and subsequent evacuation following threats made to police,” Prof Shoemaker said.

“Most importantly, I can confirm that there were no injuries to anyone on campus.

“I want to thank the NSW Police Force, all members of campus security, our Chaplaincy colleagues, and—especially—all staff and students who were caught up in the events.

“The level of cooperation with the essential lock-down procedures was just outstanding. And the collegial support shown by all members of the Southern Cross family was tremendous.

“There is no doubt it has been a stressful and for some, disturbing ordeal. 

“Counselling will be available through the critical incident debriefing service, our own counselling service and the employee assistance program today and for the coming weeks.”

NSW Police asks the public to come forward with any information

NSW Police issued a statement after yesterday’s incident saying approximately 800 people were evacuated from the university after a lockdown was initiated. 

“Nearby schools also initiated lockdowns, which have all now been released", the statement said.

“There were no reports of shots fired and following an extensive search of the campus, no credible threat was detected.

“One female student was conveyed to Lismore Base Hospital for a minor injury not related to the threatening phone call.

“Whilst the police operation has ended, police will work cooperatively with university management and continue to maintain a high visibility presence on and around the campus.n to come forward.”

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. 

Information is treated in strict confidence. 

The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

To read more about the event as it unfolded, read Southern Cross Uni in lockdown after gunman reported on campus and UPDATE: Lockdown at Southern Cross University is being lifted