Campus Alert Archive
Colby

Non-student fires two rounds into a dorm hallway during a campus party; no injuries

AI-generated · every claim is source-linked
MEshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
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Confirmed Threat

During the early morning hours of March 11, 2023, during the annual 'Doghead' party at Alfond Senior Apartments, non-student Andrew Gifford (24, of Waterville) allegedly fired two rounds from a Ruger 9mm handgun into a hallway wall following an altercation. No injuries occurred. Colby went into lockdown, with Interim Dean Barbara Moore emailing students at 2:21 AM EST urging shelter in place. Gifford was arrested and charged with reckless conduct.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Colby College
Private Liberal Arts · ME
All Colby cases →
~2,000 students
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some messages in this sequence are documented (their existence, timing, and channel are sourced) but their exact wording is not preserved in the public record. Those entries appear as placeholders; only confirmed text is displayed.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatimColby Echo student newspaper, quoting Interim Dean Barbara Moore's 2:21 AM email203 chars
We urge you to shelter in place until we have additional information that the campus is entirely safe. The Waterville Police Department have a person in custody who attended events there and fired a gun.
Sent at 2:21 AM EST on March 11, 2023, approximately 50 minutes after the shots were fired around 1:30 AM EST
The alert confirmed a suspect was already in custody, which would have reduced the perceived threat level for students
Prior to the Dean's email, the SGA Vice President had texted students asking them to shelter in place, filling the communication gap
ALL CLEAREmail
Wording not preserved
A all clear message is documented at this point in the sequence, but its exact wording is not preserved in the public record. The public edition displays only confirmed alert text.
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.

We urge you to shelter in place until we have additional information that the campus is entirely safe. The Waterville Police Department have a person in custody who attended events there and fired a gun.

  • Sourcepresent23/25

    Final assessment

    A strong majority finds the source present, naming the Waterville Police Department; two reads viewed it as a referenced third party, not the sender.

    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. absent: No sender, agency, or branded signature identifies who issued this message.
    2. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as the responding authority.
    3. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
    4. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
    5. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as the responding authority.
    6. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department", identifying the responding authority.
    7. absent: No branded signature, sender tag, or named authority identifies the sender; "Waterville Police Department" is a referenced third party.
    8. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as the responding authority.
    9. present: "The Waterville Police Department" is named.
    10. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
    11. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as having a person in custody.
    12. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as the responding authority.
    13. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
    14. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department", a responding authority.
    15. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
    16. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as having a person in custody.
    17. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department", the responding authority.
    18. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
    19. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department" as having a person in custody.
    20. present: It names "Waterville Police Department".
    21. present: It names "the Waterville Police Department", the responding authority.
    22. present: Names "The Waterville Police Department".
    23. present: Names "The Waterville Police Department" as the authority.
    24. present: "The Waterville Police Department" names the responding authority.
    25. present: It names "The Waterville Police Department".
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that a specific hazard is named, a person who fired a gun.

    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: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific hazard.
    2. present: It refers to a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    3. present: It says a person "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    4. present: It says someone "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    5. present: It states a person "fired a gun", a specific hazard.
    6. present: It names "a person in custody" who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    7. present: It names a "person in custody" who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    8. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    9. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    10. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    11. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    12. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    13. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    14. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    15. present: It refers to a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    16. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    17. present: It says a person "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    18. present: It refers to a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    19. present: It references someone who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    20. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    21. present: It states a person "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    22. present: Names a person who "fired a gun".
    23. present: Names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    24. present: It names a person who "fired a gun", a specific threat.
    25. present: It states a person "fired a gun", a specific threat.
  • Locationpresent22/25

    Final assessment

    A strong majority finds a location present, the campus; a few read campus as too generic to count.

    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: It refers to "the campus" being safe.
    2. present: It refers to "the campus" being safe.
    3. present: It refers to "the campus" and "there".
    4. present: It refers to "the campus" and "events there".
    5. present: It references "the campus" being safe.
    6. present: It references "the campus" and events "there", a location.
    7. present: It refers to "the campus", a location.
    8. absent: It says "the campus" only generically as a safety reference, not the incident place.
    9. present: It references "the campus" and "events there".
    10. present: It refers to "the campus" being "entirely safe".
    11. present: It references "the campus" and "events there".
    12. present: It implies "the campus" is the relevant place.
    13. absent: It says "the campus" generically, which counts as a location reference.
    14. present: It refers to "the campus" being safe and "events there", a location.
    15. present: It refers to "the campus" being safe.
    16. present: It refers to "the campus" and "events there", a campus location.
    17. present: It refers to "the campus", a place.
    18. present: It refers to "the campus" being safe.
    19. present: It references "the campus" being safe.
    20. absent: It says "there" but names no specific building, area, or campus.
    21. present: It mentions "the campus" and "events there", a location.
    22. present: Refers to "the campus" and "there".
    23. present: Refers to "the campus" being safe and where events occurred.
    24. present: It refers to "the campus" and "events there", a location.
    25. present: It references "the campus" being made safe.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that protective action is given, urging recipients to shelter in place until more information is available.

    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: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    2. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place".
    3. present: It urges "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    4. present: It urges "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    5. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place".
    6. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place", a protective action.
    7. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place", a protective action.
    8. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place".
    9. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place".
    10. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    11. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    12. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    13. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    14. present: It urges "shelter in place", a protective action.
    15. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place".
    16. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information", a protective action.
    17. present: It urges "shelter in place until we have additional information", protective action.
    18. present: It urges "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    19. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    20. present: It instructs "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    21. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place", a protective action.
    22. present: Urges recipients to "shelter in place".
    23. present: Urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
    24. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place", a protective action.
    25. present: It urges recipients to "shelter in place until we have additional information".
  • Timeabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that no clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.

    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.
    2. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    3. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    4. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    5. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    6. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    7. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    8. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    9. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    10. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    11. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    12. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    13. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    14. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    15. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    16. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    17. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    18. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    19. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    20. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    21. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the message.
    22. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    23. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    24. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    25. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
  • Impactpresent16/25

    Final assessment

    Present by a 16 to 9 majority. States a person fired a gun and urges shelter until the campus is entirely safe, which most read as conveying an armed danger; the dissent noted no injury and the person already in custody.

    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 urges shelter until the campus is entirely safe and notes a person fired a gun but states no harm or injury.
    2. absent: This urges shelter and notes a person fired a gun and is in custody but states no injury or explicit ongoing danger.
    3. present: States a person fired a gun and urges sheltering until the campus is entirely safe, implying a serious danger to be confirmed resolved.
    4. absent: It urges shelter and reports a person in custody who fired a gun but states no injury and a person already in custody.
    5. absent: Shelter guidance and notes a person in custody fired a gun but states no injury or harm.
    6. present: It reports a person in custody who fired a gun and urges shelter until campus is entirely safe which conveys a danger to safety.
    7. absent: Urges shelter until campus is entirely safe and notes a person fired a gun and is in custody, but states no actual harm.
    8. absent: Mentions a person in custody who fired a gun with shelter guidance but states no harm or injury.
    9. present: Says a person fired a gun and is in custody, and urges shelter until campus is entirely safe, implying a real danger to safety.
    10. present: It reports a person fired a gun and urges shelter until campus is entirely safe, implying danger from gunfire.
    11. present: Urges shelter until the campus is entirely safe and reports a person fired a gun, with the safety framing conveying a real danger.
    12. present: It reports a person fired a gun at events and urges sheltering until the campus is entirely safe, implying a danger to safety.
    13. present: It states a person fired a gun at events and urges sheltering until the campus is entirely safe, implying a danger to people.
    14. present: States a person fired a gun and is in custody and urges shelter until campus is entirely safe, conveying a real armed danger.
    15. absent: Urges shelter and notes a person fired a gun and is in custody, but states no injury or ongoing danger.
    16. present: States a person fired a gun and urges sheltering until campus is entirely safe, implying a danger that threatened safety.
    17. present: States a person fired a gun and urges shelter until the campus is entirely safe, implying a danger to people.
    18. present: States a person fired a gun and urges sheltering until campus is entirely safe, conveying a danger to people.
    19. absent: Says shelter in place and notes a person fired a gun but states no injury or harm caused.
    20. present: States that a person fired a gun at events and is in custody, implying a dangerous shooting that occurred.
    21. present: States a person fired a gun at events there, a clearly stated dangerous act beyond naming a hazard.
    22. present: Reports a person fired a gun at events and urges shelter until campus is entirely safe, implying a danger to people.
    23. present: States a person fired a gun and is in custody and urges shelter until the campus is entirely safe, implying a danger.
    24. absent: Reports a person fired a gun and is in custody with shelter guidance but states no harm to people.
    25. present: It urges shelter in place until campus is entirely safe and reports a person fired a gun, implying danger to life.

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

During the early morning hours of March 11, 2023, gunfire erupted at Colby College's Alfond Senior Apartments during the annual 'Doghead' party, a tradition near St. Patrick's Day. Police said Andrew Gifford, 24, of Waterville (not a Colby student), got into an altercation and fired two rounds from a Ruger 9mm handgun into a hallway wall. No one was injured. Waterville Police responded and arrested Gifford. Central Maine reported that he was charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. Interim Dean Barbara Moore sent a shelter-in-place email at 2:21 AM EST. The Colby Echo reported that before the Dean's email, the SGA Vice President had texted students urging them to shelter in place, filling a communication gap. The Bangor Daily News and Boston.com provided breaking coverage. WGME confirmed the charges.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooter was a non-student who had attended the party, raising questions about visitor access to campus housing during large social events
Student government stepped in to fill the communication gap, the SGA VP texted students before the Dean's official email, highlighting informal alert networks
No injuries occurred despite shots being fired in a hallway during a crowded party, making this a near-miss incident
Outcome
Andrew Gifford was arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred at student housing during a large social gathering.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    Incident of gun violence at the College (Colby Echo)
    colbyecho.news
    archived copy
  2. News
    Waterville man charged with reckless conduct (Central Maine)
    centralmaine.com
    archived copy
  3. News
    Colby College goes into lockdown (Bangor Daily News)
    bangordailynews.com
    archived copy
  4. News
    Colby College goes into lockdown after shot fired (Boston.com)
    boston.com
    archived copy
  5. News
    Waterville man charged in shooting incident (WGME)
    wgme.com
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Colby College: Non-student fires two rounds into a dorm hallway during a campus party; no injuries." Incident of March 11, 2023. Added April 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/colby-college-shooting-2023-03-11/

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

Tags
shootingliberal-arts-collegemainenon-student-shooterdoghead-partystudent-housingno-injuriesreckless-conduct
Added April 2026Updated April 2026Via ingestion