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Posted: Wednesday, 26 March 2008 3:08PM

Threat Of Shooting At Western Ill. Univ. Prompts Investigation

MACOMB, Ill. (WBBM/AP) -- A handwritten note threatening a Wednesday shooting at Western Illinois University prompted increased police presence on campus, while students were given the option of skipping classes without penalty, officials said.

The threat left at an apartment near the 11,000-student campus in Macomb triggered a university alert system and comes slightly more than a month after a gunman killed five students and himself in a crowded lecture hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, just about 150 miles northeast of WIU.

``That's the first thing that comes to your mind,'' said WIU spokeswoman Bonnie Barker. ``You don't want that here.''

The threat prompted police to allow faculty, staff, and students who wished to remain absent from classes or work to do so without being penalized. Student residence halls will remain locked for the rest of the day today to non-residents and only those with keys can enter.

An employee at an off-campus apartment complex received the note that was left in a drop-box sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday, university officials said.

``Basically, the letter said there would be a shooting on campus today,'' Robert Fitzgerald, the head of WIU's office of public safety, said at a news conference. He declined to provide details about the note, including its exact contents.

No suspect was in custody, Macomb police said.

"While this is an anonymous off-campus threat, it is imperative that we take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our students, staff and faculty," noted WIU President Al Goldfarb.

Western spokeswoman Darcie Schinberger said university officials received the report of the threat at 8:30 a.m. Students and faculty were alerted within the hour.

"We have not canceled classes,'' Schinberger said. "If students and faculty are not comfortable ... they do not need to attend classes.''

Police patrol, including assistance from the Illinois State Police, Macomb Police Department and the McDonough County Sheriff's Office, has been increased and is highly present on the WIU-Macomb campus, Fitzgerald said.

Any unusual or suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Office of Public Safety by calling 9-1-1 from any campus phone or 298-1949. There are also 51 emergency callboxes located throughout campus.

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