Search for suspect called off after UT Health lockdown, no shots fired
Posted/updated on: September 4, 2025 at 3:22 am
TYLER — UPDATE: As of Wednesday afternoon, Tyler PD PIO Andy Erbaugh said the department is no longer looking for a suspect in Tuesday’s lockdown at UT Health East Texas. All possible efforts to contact possible witnesses have not led to an arrest at this time.
The lockdown at UT Health East Texas in Tyler was lifted at around 1 p.m. after reports of a person carrying a gun at the Olympic Plaza.
During a press conference at around noon on Tuesday, Officer Erbaugh said witnesses saw an argument between two people and one of them displayed a gun. At that point, the active shooter alarm was activated. According to our news partner KETK, law enforcement responded within seconds. The original call came from the Olympic Plaza on Beckham Avenue. Other reports stated the person was heading to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor; however, officials did not locate the person.
At this time, officials have not detained anyone.
“Command post is here between police, fire and EMS at the plaza,” Erbaugh said. “Once we get a little more information from the video, because we don’t want to be running around and maybe go someplace where the suspect is not.”
No shots were fired and no injuries have been reported. The hospital is still functioning, with patients still arriving for their appointments.
“This seems like a contained incident, like it was between two people and a gun was displayed,” Erbaugh said. “But then it went up into the floor where the patients and nurses are, and that’s when the alarm went off.”
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler also went into a brief lockdown, but it has since been lifted. A spokesperson said security has been heightened.
UT Health released a statement on Tuesday afternoon:
“The lockdown was lifted at approximately 1 p.m. No injuries were reported, and hospital and clinic operations have resumed as normal,” Allison Pollan, the Director of Communications for UT Health East Texas, said. “We are grateful for the swift response of our Security team and the Tyler Police Department and will continue to cooperate with local authorities as they investigate this incident.
