Armed Clown Reports Prompted Merrimack College Shelter in Place

A shelter in place was called and a dorm was evacuated at Merrimack College Monday night amidst reports of an armed clown on campus.

The shelter in place was lifted just before 10:30 p.m., according to the school's student-run paper and students at the college.

The following text message was sent to students at 9:36 p.m.

"All students are to shelter in place. Monican is evacuated. Suspicious person dressed as a clown may be armed. Await further instruction."

Police searched the campus and found no clown and no gun. The school later told media a hoax was to blame.

Creepy clown hoaxes have swept areas of the country of late.