HICKORY, N.C.,None — Investigators will have extra patrols at Catawba Valley Community College for a second straight day Friday after a gunman put the campus on a five-hour lockdown Wednesday.
Extra officers spent Thursday at the college after the incident put students and faculty on edge.
It was hard for students like Xiong Vang to go back to class Thursday morning at Catawba Valley Community College.
She, along with thousands of students, was locked in classrooms across the campus for hours Wednesday after a gunman was spotted on the college's east campus.
So far police have not identified that person.
"Everybody was mentally traumatized. They aren't sure if they are still at risk if he could come back today," she said.
Investigators said they are looking at surveillance video from the east campus where the Appalachian State University center in Hickory is also located.
"The way it was initially described was that it was held up and not pointed at anybody but held up," said Maj. Clyde Deal with the Hickory Police Department.
Police were not taking any chances Thursday.
As students began returning to the campus, officers could be seen patrolling both the east campus and the main campus a half mile away, checking for anything suspicious.
The heightened visibility helped ease fear for those who came back.
"My mom didn't want me to come back this week but I have to go to class. But now I see a lot of sheriffs," said student Jessica Contreras.
"Knowing that there's extra cops around and extra security makes it a lot safer," said student Carrie Romance.
Investigators said they have not identified a possible motive for someone to bring a gun to campus. Officers said they will have an increased police presence on both campuses though the remainder of the week.
So far, police only have a vague description of the gunman. He is a white man in his mid-thirties with long, stringy blond hair.
If you have any information about the suspect, call Hickory police.
WSOC
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