Brandishing rifles, Penn State Police charged Atherton Hall shortly before 9:30 this evening and locked down the building, but the investigation turned up nothing.
The response may have been triggered by confusion over a code red message about a suspected murderer at large in the vicinity of Atherton Street, Penn State Police said.
Earlier this evening, the State College Police Department sent out a press release alerting area residents that Antonio L. Winkleman, wanted by authorities for a murder in Cambria County Sunday, was seen between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. near the intersection of Branch Road and South Atherton Street.
Police said Winkleman was possibly armed and "extremely dangerous."
Residents were told to stay inside their rooms as police swept the building; resident assistants notified students of the police's departure around 9:55 p.m.
