Campus Alert Archive
Clemson

Gunfire during a dispute at an adjacent park; alert sent within two minutes

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SCshootingemergency notificationhigh confidence
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Confirmed Threat

On June 22, 2024, a dispute between several people at Dawson Park near Clemson University escalated into gunfire at approximately 7:08 PM EDT. Clemson University Public Safety issued a Critical Alert around 7:10 PM EDT instructing the community to avoid the area. No injuries were reported, and the alert was lifted at approximately 8:00 PM EDT.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Clemson University
Public R1 · SC
All Clemson cases →
~28,000 studentsCU Safe Alerts
Official alert policy
Read when and how Clemson says it will use CU Alerts: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTTwitter/X
Verified verbatim@ClemsonSafety on X (verbatim CRITICAL CU ALERT Dawson Park)97 chars
CRITICAL CU ALERT: Report of gunshots off-campus at Dawson Park. Avoid the area. Secure in place.
The Critical Alert was sent approximately two minutes after the 911 call was received at 7:08 PM EDT on June 22, 2024
The 'off-campus' qualifier in the alert text is Clemson's standard framing for incidents at adjacent locations not on university property; Dawson Park sits at 894 Old Stone Church Road, adjacent to the campus boundary
Alert was issued in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act to warn the university community of a possible threat to safety; 'Secure in place' is Clemson's protective-action command directing people to remain behind locked doors, distinct from an evacuation order
ALL CLEARTwitter/X+51 min
Verified verbatim@ClemsonSafety on X (verbatim All Clear)125 chars
Urgent CU Alert: All Clear- Shooting reported in Clemson City has been cancelled. Normal operations have resumed. 06/23/2024.
The Critical Alert was lifted approximately 50 minutes after the initial message
City police requested tips from anyone with information about the shooting
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

CRITICAL CU ALERT: Report of gunshots off-campus at Dawson Park. Avoid the area. Secure in place.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that the source is present, identifying the issuing authority.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Opens with branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT" identifying the sender.
    2. present: Opens with branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT".
    3. present: Opens "CRITICAL CU ALERT" branded signature, identifying the sender.
    4. present: Opens with branded "CRITICAL CU ALERT" identifying the sender.
    5. present: Opens with branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT", identifying the Clemson sender.
    6. present: Branded "CRITICAL CU ALERT" identifying the sender.
    7. present: Opens "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded signature identifying the sender.
    8. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded signature identifying the sender.
    9. present: Opens with branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT", identifying the sender.
    10. present: Opens with branded "CRITICAL CU ALERT".
    11. present: Branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT" identifies the sender.
    12. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT" identifying the Clemson alert system as sender.
    13. present: Opens with the branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT".
    14. present: Opens with the branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT", identifying the sender.
    15. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded signature identifying the sender.
    16. present: Opens with branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT", identifying the sender.
    17. present: Opens with branded "CRITICAL CU ALERT", identifying the sender.
    18. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded sender signature.
    19. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT" branded signature, identifying the sender.
    20. present: Opens with branded "CRITICAL CU ALERT" identifying the sender.
    21. present: Opens with branded signature "CRITICAL CU ALERT".
    22. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded sender signature.
    23. present: The message opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", the branded signature identifying the sender.
    24. present: It opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded signature identifying the sender.
    25. present: Opens with "CRITICAL CU ALERT", a branded signature identifying the sender.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the hazard is stated, shots fired.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names the specific hazard "Report of gunshots".
    2. present: Names the hazard, "Report of gunshots".
    3. present: It names "gunshots", a specific threat.
    4. present: It names a "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    5. present: Names "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    6. present: Names the specific threat "Report of gunshots".
    7. present: Names "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    8. present: Names a "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    9. present: Names the specific hazard "Report of gunshots".
    10. present: Names the specific threat "Report of gunshots".
    11. present: Names the hazard "Report of gunshots".
    12. present: Names the hazard as a "Report of gunshots".
    13. present: Names the specific hazard "Report of gunshots".
    14. present: Names the hazard as a "Report of gunshots".
    15. present: Names the hazard specifically as "gunshots".
    16. present: Names the hazard as a "Report of gunshots".
    17. present: Names the hazard specifically as "gunshots".
    18. present: Names "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    19. present: Names a "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    20. present: Names the specific hazard, a "Report of gunshots".
    21. present: Names the hazard as "Report of gunshots".
    22. present: Names "gunshots", a specific threat.
    23. present: It names a specific threat, "Report of gunshots".
    24. present: It names a "Report of gunshots", a specific threat.
    25. present: Names the hazard, a "Report of gunshots".
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that a specific location is named.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    2. present: Gives location, "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    3. present: It locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park", a specific place.
    4. present: It specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    5. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park", a named location.
    6. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    7. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    8. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park", a location.
    9. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    10. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    11. present: Locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    12. present: Locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    13. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    14. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    15. present: Locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    16. present: States location: "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    17. present: Gives location "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    18. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    19. present: Locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park", a specific place.
    20. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    21. present: Locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    22. present: Specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park", a named place.
    23. present: It locates it "off-campus at Dawson Park".
    24. present: It specifies "off-campus at Dawson Park", a named place.
    25. present: States the location, "off-campus at Dawson Park".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree protective guidance is directed to recipients.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    2. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    3. present: It instructs "Avoid the area. Secure in place", protective actions.
    4. present: It instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place."
    5. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    6. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    7. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place."
    8. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place.", protective actions.
    9. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place", protective actions.
    10. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place", protective actions.
    11. present: Instructs "Avoid the area. Secure in place.".
    12. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    13. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    14. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place.", protective actions.
    15. present: Instructs "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    16. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    17. present: Instructs "Avoid the area. Secure in place.", protective actions.
    18. present: Instructs "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    19. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place", protective actions.
    20. present: Instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    21. present: Instructs recipients "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    22. present: Instructs "Avoid the area. Secure in place".
    23. present: It instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place", protective actions.
    24. present: It instructs recipients to "Avoid the area. Secure in place."
    25. present: Instructs recipients, "Avoid the area. Secure in place", protective actions.
  • Timeabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that no clock time, date, or recency cue appears, so timing is absent.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    2. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    3. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears in the text.
    4. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    5. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears.
    6. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    7. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word like "now" appears.
    8. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue like "now" appears.
    9. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word like "now" appears in the text.
    10. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as "now" appears.
    11. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    12. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears.
    13. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    14. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    15. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    16. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is given in the text.
    17. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears in the text.
    18. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    19. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word like "now" appears in the text.
    20. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    21. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word like "now" appears.
    22. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    23. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears in the text.
    24. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    25. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word like "now" appears in the text.
  • Impactabsent5/25

    Final assessment

    Absent by a 20 to 5 majority. Reports gunshots off campus with avoid-area and secure-in-place guidance but states no harm; the minority read the critical framing and gunshots as conveying danger.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: It reports gunshots off campus and says avoid the area but states no explicit harm or consequence.
    2. absent: This reports gunshots off-campus with avoid-area guidance but states no explicit harm or danger to people.
    3. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus with avoid-area and secure-in-place but states no injury or explicit danger.
    4. absent: It reports gunshots off campus and says avoid and secure in place but states no injury or explicit danger.
    5. absent: Reports gunshots off campus and to avoid the area but states no harm or consequence.
    6. absent: This reports gunshots off-campus with avoid and secure guidance but states no explicit harm or consequence.
    7. absent: Reports gunshots and secure-in-place guidance but states no actual harm or severity.
    8. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus with avoid and secure guidance but states no explicit harm or severity.
    9. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus with avoid and secure guidance but states no harm or explicit danger.
    10. present: A report of gunshots paired with avoid and secure instructions implies danger from gunfire.
    11. present: Labeled a CRITICAL alert reporting gunshots and instructing to secure in place, with the critical framing conveying serious danger.
    12. absent: It reports gunshots and says avoid the area and secure in place but states no harm or consequence.
    13. present: A report of gunshots with avoid the area and secure in place conveys a danger of being shot.
    14. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus with avoid-area and secure-in-place guidance but states no injury or explicit harm beyond the hazard.
    15. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus with avoid and secure guidance but states no explicit harm or consequence.
    16. absent: Reports gunshots off campus and to secure in place but states no specific harm or consequence.
    17. absent: Reports gunshots and to secure in place but states no harm or consequence and notes it is off campus.
    18. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus and to secure in place but states no harm or consequence to people.
    19. absent: Reports gunshots off campus and says avoid the area but states no harm or consequence.
    20. absent: Reports gunshots off-campus with avoid and secure guidance but states no resulting harm or danger.
    21. present: Reports gunshots and instructs to secure in place, conveying an active danger from reported gunfire.
    22. present: Reports gunshots and instructs to avoid the area and secure in place, implying a danger to people from gunfire.
    23. absent: Reports gunshots and to secure in place but states no harm or potential consequence.
    24. absent: Reports gunshots and to avoid the area but states no explicit harm or danger.
    25. absent: It reports gunshots and to secure in place but does not state any harm or how dangerous it is.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

On the evening of June 22, 2024, a dispute between several individuals at Dawson Park on Old Stone Church Road in Clemson, South Carolina, escalated into gunfire. The City of Clemson Police Department received a 911 call at 7:08 PM EDT reporting shots fired. Both Clemson City Police and Clemson University Public Safety officers responded to the park. Clemson University issued a Critical Alert around 7:10 PM EDT in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, warning the community to avoid the area. One person was confirmed to have fired several shots in the direction of others during the dispute, causing several bystanders to flee. No injuries were reported. The alert was lifted at approximately 8:00 PM EDT, and city police collected evidence from the scene. The incident occurred during the summer session when campus population was reduced.
Analysis

Key Findings

The Critical Alert followed the 7:08 PM EDT 911 call by approximately two minutes
Despite occurring at an off-campus city park, the proximity to the Clemson campus triggered a Clery Act notification obligation
The summer timing meant fewer students were on campus, reducing potential exposure
Outcome
No injuries were reported. The City of Clemson Police Department collected evidence from the scene and continued investigating. Shell casings were recovered from the park area.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Gunfire near Clemson prompts campus alert, no injuries reported (WLTX)
    wltx.com
    archived copy
  2. News
    Police investigating shots fired near Clemson University (Fox Carolina)
    foxcarolina.com
    archived copy
  3. News
    Police: Shots fired at Dawson Park near Clemson University (WLOS)
    wlos.com
    archived copy
  4. Social
    @ClemsonSafety X — Dawson Park CRITICAL CU ALERT
    x.com
    archived copy
  5. Social
    @ClemsonSafety X — Dawson Park All Clear
    x.com
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Clemson University: Gunfire during a dispute at an adjacent park; alert sent within two minutes." Incident of June 22, 2024. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/clemson-university-shots-fired-2024-06-22/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
shots-firednear-campusparkclery-actcritical-alertsouth-carolinasummer-sessionno-injuries
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion