Students wait on the Knight campus of the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Police said the Lincoln campus was on lockdown. (Photo by Amie Wambach for Rhode Island Current)
A passenger carrying a knife who got off a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus at the entrance of the Lincoln campus of the Community College of Rhode Island early Thursday afternoon prompted the 40-minute campus lockdown, according to a message from the school’s president.
Alerts to the campus community cited a report of a possible person with a gun. But CCRI President Rosemary Costigan sent an email informing students, faculty and staff at 2:47 p.m. what happened. Costigan said that Lincoln Police, Rhode Island State Police, and CCRI Campus Police responded immediately when RIPTA reported the passenger whom witnesses said fled and possibly entered the campus.
At 1:16 p.m. CCRI sent an alert saying that a suspect was in custody.
“Based on information provided by law enforcement agencies, the suspect is not a CCRI student,” Costigan wrote.
“Thanks to the swift and coordinated response of law enforcement, the suspect was apprehended, and the situation was resolved without harm to our community,” Costigan said. “The Lincoln Police Department is leading the investigation, which remains ongoing.”
The school’s Facebook page posted an all clear announcement at 1:32 p.m. The post ended with an unfinished sentence leaving faculty, students and staff waiting for the news about when classes will resume.
“Law enforcement has determined that the campus is safe,” it read. “Campus is now open for faculty and staff. Classes will resume at”
The Lincoln campus community received a text alert at 12:48, two minutes after a lockdown alert was sent to students, staff and faculty at the Warwick campus. The earlier text was also unfinished:“Based on location, decide to run, hide or fight. Seek shelter, turn off lights and silence your cell phone. Wait fo”
“It is my understanding that the matter is under control,” Lt. Col. Robert Creamer, Rhode Island State Police said. He said the Lincoln Police Department is the lead agency on the incident.
A Lincoln police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment, nor was Warwick Police Chief Bradford Connor.
Costigan acknowledged there was confusion regarding the school’s Warwick campus, which was also went into lockdown as initial reports mistakenly identified it as the location of the incident.
“We understand the concern and anxiety this caused for those who teach, learn, and work in Warwick. The college will conduct a full review of the process in order to avoid future confusion. I also want to thank the Warwick and State Police for their swift response to the Warwick Campus,” Costigan wrote.
Updated with information shared with students, faculty and staff by CCRI President Rosemary Costigan.
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