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CMU

Pellet gun strikes three students on Fifth Avenue

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Confirmed Threat

CMU Police safety alert 25-004 says a BB pellet gun fired from a white Toyota Tacoma struck three students in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Carnegie Mellon University
Private R1 · PA
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~16,000 studentsCMU-Alert
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTWebsite
Verified verbatim1191 chars
SAFETY ALERT 25-004 Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m. Location of Incident: 3600 Block of Fifth Avenue Type of Incident: Assault Description of Incident: At just after 1 a.m., three CMU students were walking in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue approximately one mile from central campus when someone in a white Toyota Tacoma fired a BB pellet gun at them, striking two of the students in the arm and the third in the back, none of whom reported injuries. They did not see who was inside the vehicle and were unable to see the vehicle’s license plate. If you have any information to share regarding this incident, please contact the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police by calling 9-1-1 or the CMU Police Department at 412-268-2323. General Prevention and Safety Tips: Stay alert to your surroundings at all times. Avoid walking alone, especially after dark. Do not fight with an assailant who attempts to steal your belongings. Report any suspicious incidents, persons or vehicles immediately to CMU Police at 412-268-2323, or when off campus to the Pittsburgh Police at 9-1-1. Sincerely, Aaron V. Lauth Chief of Police Carnegie Mellon University Police Department
Verify this quote
CMU Police safety alert 25-004cmu.edufind archived copies
Dual independent fetch 2026-10-04. sha256 41930c09951981ca321240ceb522a7cbfa3cf73aae89dcb8205aa4e6b9919a1f. The message gives the incident clock as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m. and does not print a separate send time. The police news heading supplies the year 2025.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, SuperGrok Heavy 4.5 (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.

SAFETY ALERT 25-004 Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m. Location of Incident: 3600 Block of Fifth Avenue Type of Incident: Assault Description of Incident: At just after 1 a.m., three CMU students were walking in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue approximately one mile from central campus when someone in a white Toyota Tacoma fired a BB pellet gun at them, striking two of the students in the arm and the third in the back, none of whom reported injuries. They did not see who was inside the vehicle and were unable to see the vehicle’s license plate. If you have any information to share regarding this incident, please contact the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police by calling 9-1-1 or the CMU Police Department at 412-268-2323. General Prevention and Safety Tips: Stay alert to your surroundings at all times. Avoid walking alone, especially after dark. Do not fight with an assailant who attempts to steal your belongings. Report any suspicious incidents, persons or vehicles immediately to CMU Police at 412-268-2323, or when off campus to the Pittsburgh Police at 9-1-1. Sincerely, Aaron V. Lauth Chief of Police Carnegie Mellon University Police Department

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    25 of 25 passes marked Source present. The message is signed by the Carnegie Mellon University police chief and names CMU Police.

    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: The message is signed by the Carnegie Mellon University police chief and names CMU Police.
    2. present: The alert is signed by Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    3. present: The notice is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police, Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    4. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    5. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police at Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    6. present: It is signed by Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    7. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    8. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    9. present: The closing names Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police, Carnegie Mellon University Police Department, so the sender is identified.
    10. present: It is signed by Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    11. present: The message is signed by the Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    12. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    13. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    14. present: It is signed by Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    15. present: It is signed by Chief of Police Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    16. present: The closing names Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    17. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    18. present: It is signed by Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    19. present: The message is signed by the Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    20. present: The closing names Aaron V. Lauth, Chief of Police at the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    21. present: It is signed by the chief of the "Carnegie Mellon University Police Department."
    22. present: The alert is signed by Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    23. present: It is signed by the Chief of Police of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
    24. present: It is signed by the CMU chief of police and names both the CMU and Pittsburgh police.
    25. present: It is signed by Chief Aaron V. Lauth of the Carnegie Mellon University Police Department.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    25 of 25 passes marked Hazard present. It names an assault in which someone fired a BB pellet gun at students.

    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 an assault in which someone fired a BB pellet gun at students.
    2. present: It calls the incident an assault and says a BB pellet gun was fired at students.
    3. present: It labels the incident "Assault" and describes a BB pellet gun fired at students.
    4. present: It names "Assault" and says someone "fired a BB pellet gun" at students.
    5. present: It names an assault in which a BB pellet gun was fired at three students.
    6. present: It names the incident as "Assault" and says a person fired a BB pellet gun at students.
    7. present: It names the type "Assault" and says someone fired a "BB pellet gun" at students.
    8. present: It names an "Assault" in which someone "fired a BB pellet gun" at students, a specific threat.
    9. present: It names an assault in which someone fired a BB pellet gun at three students.
    10. present: It names "Assault" and says someone fired a BB pellet gun at students.
    11. present: It names an assault in which someone fired a BB pellet gun at students.
    12. present: It names an assault and says someone fired a BB pellet gun at students, a specific threat.
    13. present: It labels the type as "Assault" and describes a BB pellet gun fired at students.
    14. present: It names an "Assault" in which someone fired a "BB pellet gun" at students.
    15. present: It names "Assault" and says someone fired a BB pellet gun at three students.
    16. present: It names an assault in which a person fired a BB pellet gun at students.
    17. present: It names the incident as "Assault" and says a person "fired a BB pellet gun" at students.
    18. present: It names an assault in which someone fired a BB pellet gun at three students.
    19. present: It specifies an assault in which a BB pellet gun was fired at students.
    20. present: It labels the type as Assault and says a BB pellet gun was fired at students.
    21. present: It names the type as "Assault" and says a "BB pellet gun" was fired at students.
    22. present: It specifies an "Assault" in which a person fired a "BB pellet gun" at students.
    23. present: It names the type as Assault and says someone fired a BB pellet gun at students.
    24. present: It names an "Assault" in which someone fired a "BB pellet gun" at students.
    25. present: It names an assault in which a person fired a BB pellet gun at students.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    25 of 25 passes marked Location present. It places the incident on the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.

    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 places the incident on the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    2. present: It places the incident on the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    3. present: It gives the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    4. present: It gives the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    5. present: It places the incident on the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    6. present: It places the assault in the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    7. present: It places the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    8. present: It gives the location as the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    9. present: It gives the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    10. present: It locates the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    11. present: It gives the location as the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue.
    12. present: It gives the 3600 Block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    13. present: It locates the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    14. present: It locates the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue".
    15. present: It places the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    16. present: It locates the incident on the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    17. present: It locates the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    18. present: It places the incident in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    19. present: The place is the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    20. present: It places the incident in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    21. present: It places the incident in the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue," about one mile from central campus.
    22. present: It places the incident in the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    23. present: It locates the incident in the 3600 Block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
    24. present: It locates the incident on the "3600 Block of Fifth Avenue", about one mile from central campus.
    25. present: It places the incident in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue, about one mile from central campus.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    25 of 25 passes marked Guidance present. It tells people to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and gives steps such as avoid walking alone.

    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 tells people to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and gives steps such as avoid walking alone.
    2. present: It instructs people to stay alert, avoid walking alone, not fight an assailant, and call 9-1-1.
    3. present: It instructs readers to call 9-1-1, stay alert, avoid walking alone, and not fight an assailant.
    4. present: It tells people to stay alert, avoid walking alone, not fight an assailant, and call 9-1-1.
    5. present: It instructs readers to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone.
    6. present: It tells readers to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone.
    7. present: It tells people to stay alert, avoid walking alone, not fight an assailant, and call 9-1-1 or CMU Police.
    8. present: It tells people to stay alert, avoid walking alone, not fight an assailant, and call 9-1-1 or CMU Police.
    9. present: It tells people to call 9-1-1, stay alert, avoid walking alone, and not fight an assailant.
    10. present: It instructs people to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone.
    11. present: It tells recipients to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police, stay alert, and avoid walking alone.
    12. present: It tells people to contact police, stay alert, avoid walking alone, and not fight an assailant.
    13. present: It instructs people to call 911 or CMU Police, avoid walking alone, and not fight an assailant.
    14. present: It tells people to stay alert, avoid walking alone, not fight an assailant, and call 9-1-1.
    15. present: It instructs readers to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone.
    16. present: It tells readers to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone and not fight an assailant.
    17. present: It instructs people to call 911 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone and stay alert.
    18. present: It tells recipients to call 911, stay alert, avoid walking alone, not fight an assailant, and report suspicious activity.
    19. present: It instructs people to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone.
    20. present: It instructs people to call 9-1-1, avoid walking alone, and not fight an assailant.
    21. present: It instructs people to call 9-1-1, stay alert, avoid walking alone, and report suspicious activity.
    22. present: It instructs people with information to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and gives safety steps such as avoid walking alone.
    23. present: It tells people to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and gives instructions such as avoid walking alone.
    24. present: It tells recipients to call 911, stay alert, avoid walking alone, and report suspicious activity.
    25. present: It tells people to call 9-1-1 or CMU Police and to avoid walking alone.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    25 of 25 passes marked Time present. It gives the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.

    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. present: It gives the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    2. present: It dates the incident as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    3. present: It states the incident occurred Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    4. present: It states the incident was "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m." and also says "immediately".
    5. present: It gives the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    6. present: It gives the incident time as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    7. present: It gives the incident time as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    8. present: It states the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    9. present: It states the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    10. present: It gives the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    11. present: It states the incident occurred on Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    12. present: It states the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    13. present: It gives the incident time as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    14. present: It states the incident time as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    15. present: It gives both a date and a clock time: "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    16. present: It dates the incident to Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    17. present: It gives the incident time as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    18. present: It states the incident was Saturday, April 19, at 1:11 a.m., just after 1 a.m.
    19. present: It dates the incident Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    20. present: It gives the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    21. present: It gives the incident time as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    22. present: It dates the incident as "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    23. present: It states the incident time as Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m.
    24. present: It dates the incident "Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m."
    25. present: It gives Saturday, April 19 at 1:11 a.m. and also says to report suspicious activity immediately.
  • Impactpresent24/25

    Final assessment

    24 of 25 passes marked Impact present and 1 marked it absent. It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, and that none reported injuries.

    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. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, and that none reported injuries.
    2. present: It states the pellets struck three students and that none of them reported injuries.
    3. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, stating physical harm even with no reported injuries.
    4. present: It says the pellets struck three students in the arm or back, and none reported injuries.
    5. present: It says pellets struck three students and that none of them reported injuries.
    6. present: It says the pellets struck students in the arm and back, while noting none reported injuries.
    7. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, and that none reported injuries.
    8. present: It says the pellets struck three students in the arm or back, stating physical harm, while noting no reported injuries.
    9. present: It says the pellets struck students in the arm and back and that none reported injuries, stating the harm and its severity.
    10. present: It says pellets struck three students, stating physical harm, although none reported injuries.
    11. present: It says the pellets struck students in the arm and the back, describing the effect on people.
    12. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back and that none reported injuries, stating the physical consequence.
    13. present: It states that pellets struck three students, which is explicit harm, while noting none reported injuries.
    14. present: It says the pellets struck three students in the arm or back, though none reported injuries.
    15. absent: Students were struck, but it says none reported injuries and never states danger or further harm.
    16. present: It states pellets struck students in the arm and back, so physical harm is described even with no reported injuries.
    17. present: It states the pellets struck students in the arm and back and that none reported injuries, conveying the harm and its severity.
    18. present: It says the pellets struck three students and that none of them reported injuries.
    19. present: It states the pellets struck three students and that none reported injuries, which gives the harm and its severity.
    20. present: It states that pellets struck three students and that none of them reported injuries.
    21. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, while none reported injuries.
    22. present: It says the pellets struck three students in the arm or back, stating physical harm even though none reported injuries.
    23. present: It says the pellets struck two students in the arm and one in the back, stating physical harm.
    24. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, though none reported injuries.
    25. present: It says pellets struck three students in the arm or back, and that none reported injuries.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

Safety alert 25-004 is posted on the CMU Police news page.
Analysis

Key Findings

A BB pellet gun fired from a white Toyota Tacoma struck three students in the 3600 block of Fifth Avenue.
The alert says none of the three reported injuries.
Outcome
The alert says none of the three students reported injuries.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    CMU Police news, safety alert 25-004
    cmu.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Carnegie Mellon University: Pellet gun strikes three students on Fifth Avenue." Incident of April 19, 2025. Added October 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/carnegie-mellon-university-fifth-avenue-pellet-gun-2025-04-19/

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

Tags
private-r1pennsylvaniacarnegie-mellonassault
Added October 2026Updated October 2026Via ingestion