By Benita Heath

Original Story 4:58 p.m.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ironton Police surrounded the Ohio University Southern Ironton campus fully armed at approximately 4:30 p.m. today. The whole campus was put on lockdown.

“We are securing a building and that is all you need to know,” a member of law enforcement told a member of the media.

Students coming for evening classes were not allowed on campus.

Updated Story 5:55 p.m.
A lockdown this afternoon at Ohio University Southern-Ironton Campus that brought out law enforcement from multiple county agencies ended up a false alarm.
Between 4 and 4:30 p.m. a report came into 911 of a man on campus with a gun. By 4:30 p.m. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ironton Police had surrounded the campus checking out the report. The campus was immediately put on lockdown.
However, the man turned out to be a driver with the Brinks’ security firm who was there to pick up the money in an ATM machine on campus.
“A couple of students saw a man wearing black cargo pants and had a gun on his side and no markings on his jacket,” Sheriff Jeff Lawless said. “He was wandering down a hall and carrying a bag. The students were frightened.”
Law enforcement did a complete search of the buildings including viewing surveillance video.
When they saw the driver in the hall, they recognized he was with the security firm and texted Brink’s to confirm that he was one of their drivers, Lawless said. He was with the firm.
“He had done his job prior to law enforcement arriving,” Lawless said. “He had no idea the panic that ensued. He had left the building.”
By approximately 5:30 p.m. the lockdown was lifted.
“Everything is OK,” Lawless said at that time.