A seven-hour hostage situation at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., ended peacefully last night when a man surrendered to authorities and released his more than 20 hostages.
"We are all sighing a breath of relief," Fairfield spokeswoman Barbara Kiernan said.
At around 4 p.m., the alleged hostage taker -- a local resident and a graduate school alumnus of Fairfield -- walked into a second-floor classroom in Canisius Hall and took 22 students and the professor of a Religious Studies class hostage.
Authorities said that he held the class hostage with what appeared to be an explosive device. However, that report had not been confirmed at the time this edition went to press.
"He brought a bag with him into the classroom. He claims to have an explosive device on his person," Kiernan said while the hostage situation was still in progress.
Authorities would not release the man's identity, and they said they did not know his motives.
Almost immediately after taking the class hostage, the man started to release them.
"He let five women out sometime within five minutes" of taking them hostage, Kiernan said.
Shortly afterwards, the local police brought in a negotiator to speak to the hostage taker. However, it was unclear exactly how the negotiator was able to contact the man.
"All I can say is that there has been more than one method of communication so far," Fairfield County Detective Papa George said while the incident was still ongoing.
Sometime between 7 and 8 p.m., the man released another 11 students from the classroom, while retaining six students and the professor, identified as Religious Studies Professor Elizabeth Dreyer.
Kiernan said that Dreyer is a well-respected professor who has a reputation for making even the most difficult material accessible to students.
"She is very well-liked and very popular on campus," Kiernan said.
"The students who have been released are being debriefed and receiving counseling," she added.
After hours of negotiation, the man released five more hostages, including Dreyer, leaving only one student.
"The last hostage was released at approximately 10:10 this evening," George said. Authorities said that the hostage taker "just gave up."
With all the hostages safe, attention turned to the hostage taker. "The concern is on the hostage taker," Kiernan said. "Everyone is hoping and praying for him."
The hostage taker finally surrendered after 11 p.m.
"Everybody is very baffled," Kiernan said. "We don't know the whys of this situation yet."
The environment on campus during the situation was described as calm by university officials.
"Several hundred students gathered at a prayer vigil." Kiernan said. There were "a lot of prayers, and everybody is trying to stay calm so the situation stays calm."
Fairfield University, a Jesuit university located about an hour away from New York City, was founded in 1942 and is the home to more than 3,000 undergraduates and almost 1,000 graduate students.
