This story has been, and will be, updated.
The University of New Orleans Lakefront Campus and the campus of Benjamin Franklin High School are is under a lockdown order as police search for a car theft suspect.
UPDATE: The New Orleans Police Department says the suspect has not been apprehended as of 8:26 p.m. Click here to read the full NOPD press release on the incident.
UPDATE: As of 2:03 p.m. the UNO lockdown has been lifted and the suspect apprehended, according to UNOPD Officer Cotton. The university says classes will remain canceled for the rest of the day.
UPDATE: As of 1:40 p.m., Benjamin Franklin High School is no longer under a lockdown order. However, according to UNO spokesman Adam Norris, the university remains under a shelter-in-place order.
WWL-TV's Sheba Turk says one suspect has been arrested, and police are still searching for a second.
According to information released by the NOPD and university administration to area media organizations, the suspect stole a car and was chased onto the UNO campus, where he abandoned the vehicle.
Police are focusing their manhunt on the areas in and around the Pontchartrain Hall dormitories.
The university has canceled all classes for the remainder of the day, and is asking people to stay away from campus if they are not already there.
The suspect is described as a white male, bearded, wearing a grey sweatshirt, black pants and a black hat.
EMERGENCY ALERT:
— University of New Orleans (@UofNO) January 22, 2015
Repeat. NOPD And UNO Police Department are pursuing a suspect on @UofNO campus. Shelter in place until further notice.
Emergency alert:
— University of New Orleans (@UofNO) January 22, 2015
Campus remains on lockdown. Classes cancelled for the rest of the day. We will provide further updates as available.
Full text of the message sent to UNO students urging them to stay away from campus, or to remain sheltered-in-place, as the search unfolds:
The New Orleans Police Department and the UNO Police Department continue to search for an auto theft suspect. Campus has been locked down. If you are in a building, please remain there until the all clear is given. Classes have been canceled for the rest of the day. Please do not come to campus if you are not already here. We will continue to provide updates as available.