Campus Message June 26, 2025

Baylor University shared the following message with campus after today's shelter-in-place advisory:

Baylor Students, Faculty and Staff:

Thank you for your cooperation and immediate action today in response to what we know was a very stressful and difficult situation on our campus – an alert to shelter in place because of a potentially dangerous situation until an all-clear was issued. We are grateful that our campus community is safe and all campus activities have resumed.

We thank the Baylor Department of Public Safety and Baylor University Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Waco Police Department and McLennan County Sheriff’s Office for their swift response to ensure everyone’s safety, which is our top priority during any emergency situation.

We are now able to share the following with you:

Earlier today, at approximately 11:50 a.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop for a traffic violation on northbound IH-35 just south of Waco. The driver failed to stop and fled from law enforcement, initiating a pursuit. The vehicle continued to evade law enforcement until reaching the Baylor campus, where the driver and two passengers exited the vehicle and fled on foot. It was unknown if the suspects were armed.

At 12:10 p.m., with a heavy law enforcement presence on campus, Baylor DPS activated the Baylor Alert emergency notification system – which included an initial Baylor Alert text message and use of the outdoor notification system (sirens) – instructing the campus to shelter in place. While the outdoor sirens were reactivated multiple times throughout the incident, a follow-up Baylor Alert via text and email was issued at 12:41 p.m. after Texas DPS asked Baylor to maintain its lockdown while authorities continued searching the area. Once law enforcement determined the suspects were no longer on campus, the shelter-in-place advisory was lifted through a Baylor Alert text and email sent at 1:13 p.m., and normal activities were able to resume on campus.

Baylor University’s Senior Director of Public Safety and Security Donald J. (DJ) Rodman provided this message to the campus community:

"On behalf of Baylor’s Department of Public Safety, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to every member of our university community for your calm, responsible and cooperative response during today’s shelter-in-place advisory. Because of your vigilance, communication and trust in our public safety systems, our teams were able to confirm the area was clear by 1:13 p.m. and safely lift the advisory. Your contributions today highlighted our shared dedication to keeping Baylor safe and secure."

Since we know today’s events were stressful and may have created a sense of anxiousness for you, we encourage you to access available resources at Baylor. The Pastoral Care team in Spiritual Life and Counseling Center are available for any student who may be in need of support. Faculty and staff can access resources available through the University’s Employee Assistance Program. In addition, if you have questions or need more information about the Baylor Alert emergency notification system, please visit the Baylor Emergency Management website.