Campus Alert Archive
Georgetown

400 Freshman Freshmen Evacuated Before Dawn After Drug Lab Found in Harbin Hall Room 926

DChazmatemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 23, 2010, Georgetown University Police discovered what appeared to be a clandestine drug laboratory in Room 926 of Harbin Hall, a nine-floor freshman residence hall. Officers pounded on doors at 6:00 AM, evacuating approximately 400 students in pajamas into the cold October air; seven people were evaluated for chemical exposure. Investigators initially believed it was a methamphetamine lab; later analysis confirmed the chemicals were intended to produce dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogen. Residents were allowed to return around 6:30 PM, roughly twelve hours after the evacuation began.

Alerts
3
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Georgetown University
Private R1 · DC
~17,000 studentsGeorgetown Emergency Notification System
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPA System
Approximate reconstruction199 chars
Harbin Hall is being evacuated. Residents, please exit the building immediately and proceed to the nearby dining hall or student center. Emergency personnel are on scene. Do not return to your rooms.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Georgetown University Police discovered the suspected drug laboratory during a routine check; students were roused from sleep at approximately 6:00 AM EDT and directed to the dining hall (Leo J. O'Donovan Dining Hall) or the Leavey Center student center
The odor described by residents was characteristic of chemical solvents used in drug synthesis, distinct from typical dormitory smells
Harbin Hall is a nine-floor freshman residence; evacuating 400 students before dawn on a Saturday meant most were in pajamas or sleepwear
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction569 chars
Georgetown University Public Safety reports that the laboratory materials found in Harbin Hall Room 926 have been assessed. Initial concerns about methamphetamine production have been revised: investigators now believe the chemicals were intended for production of dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a controlled hallucinogenic substance. Three individuals have been taken into custody. Seven individuals who may have been exposed to chemicals have been evaluated by medics; none required hospitalization. The building remains closed pending completion of the hazmat assessment.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The initial misidentification of the lab as methamphetamine production illustrates how field-level hazmat assessment of clandestine drug labs requires laboratory confirmation; both meth and DMT synthesis use partially overlapping precursor chemicals
DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act; its synthesis in a dormitory room created acute chemical exposure risk for adjacent residents
Seven people evaluated for exposure included residents of the ninth floor and possibly first responders who entered the room before full hazmat protocols were established
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction272 chars
Harbin Hall has been cleared by hazmat personnel and is safe for residents to return. The hazardous materials have been removed and the building has been ventilated. University officials will follow up with residents regarding the incident. Thank you for your cooperation.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The approximately 12.5-hour evacuation from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM was one of the longest residence-hall evacuations in Georgetown's recent history
Georgetown allowed residents back the same day, suggesting hazmat teams were able to fully ventilate and clear Room 926 and adjacent areas within the day
Context

Background

Harbin Hall at Georgetown University is a nine-floor freshman residence hall on the main campus in Washington, D.C. On the night of October 22-23, 2010, campus police detected an unusual chemical odor and investigated Room 926 on the ninth floor. What they found was a clandestine drug synthesis operation: beakers, chemical reagents, and equipment associated with the production of a controlled substance. Officers initially suspected methamphetamine synthesis, a classification that would have triggered a more extensive multi-agency hazmat response. The Washington Post reported that later analysis revised this: the chemicals were identified as precursors to dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a Schedule I hallucinogen. At approximately 6:00 AM EDT on October 23, officers went door-to-door waking roughly 400 freshmen and directing them out of the building into chilly autumn air. The evacuees gathered in the Leo J. O'Donovan Dining Hall and the Leavey Center while hazmat teams worked. The Hoya, Georgetown's student newspaper, reported live from the scene, capturing the surreal image of hundreds of students in pajamas outside at dawn. Seven people were evaluated for possible chemical exposure; all were cleared. Three individuals were arrested: Georgetown students John Romano and Charles Smith, and University of Richmond student John Perrone. Charges included possession of drug paraphernalia. Residents were allowed to return to Harbin at approximately 6:30 PM, nearly 12.5 hours after the evacuation began. CNN reported on the incident as part of broader coverage of clandestine drug labs in academic settings.
Analysis

Key Findings

The initial misidentification of the lab as methamphetamine production highlights a hazmat-assessment challenge: field responders often cannot distinguish drug-synthesis operations without laboratory analysis, leading to initially over-broad response protocols
DMT synthesis in a nine-floor dormitory created substantial risk for adjacent residents through chemical vapor inhalation; the 12.5-hour evacuation was commensurate with the need to ensure full ventilation and clearance
The presence of a non-Georgetown student (University of Richmond) among those arrested illustrates how campus drug operations frequently involve off-campus networks
Outcome
Three people arrested: Georgetown students John Romano and Charles Smith (Room 926 residents), and University of Richmond student John Perrone. Charges included possession of drug paraphernalia. Seven people evaluated for chemical exposure; all cleared. Residents returned to Harbin Hall at approximately 6:30 PM on October 23, 2010.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Police say drug lab was operating in Georgetown dorm room (Washington Post, October 23, 2010)
    washingtonpost.com
  2. Student Paper
    Breaking: Police Find Harbin Drug Lab; Students Evacuated (The Hoya, October 23, 2010)
    thehoya.com
  3. News
    Three Arrested Over Georgetown DMT Lab (NBC4 Washington)
    nbcwashington.com
  4. News
    Police find possible drug lab at Georgetown dorm (CNN, October 23, 2010)
    cnn.com
Tags
drug-labdmtharbin-hallresidence-hallhazmatclandestine-labchemical-exposurefreshmen-evacuatedwashington-dcprivate-r1arrests
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion