Curling iron mistaken for weapon during Monmouth University shelter in place: Police

WEST LONG BRANCH, New Jersey (WABC) -- The suspected weapon that set off a shelter in place at Monmouth University was a curling iron, police said.

The shelter in place was lifted, after nearly four and a half hours of commotion and confusion.

Students, faculty, and staff at the school had been in lockdown since around 9:15 Wednesday evening, over reports of a possible armed suspect and shots fired.

Police are now saying there is no evidence of that.

In an interview, officials found that a curling iron was mistaken for a weapon and that the person who had the curling iron was not armed with an actual weapon.

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