Campus Alert Archive
Penn

Person with a weapon on the 4000 block of Baltimore

AI-generated · every claim is source-linked
PAarmed personemergency notificationhigh confidence
Compare →
Under Investigation

Penn UPennAlert warned of a person with a weapon on the 4000 block of Baltimore Avenue after a suspect pointed a handgun at a security officer and fled westbound from 40th and Baltimore.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
University of Pennsylvania
Private R1 · PA
All Penn cases →
~28,000 studentsUPennAlert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Penn says it will use UPennAlert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
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 ALERTSMS
Verified verbatim306 chars
UPennAlert: PERSON WITH A WEAPON LOOKING FOR A BLACK MALE, LIGHT COMPLEXION, 5’10, THIN BUILT, WEARING A WHITE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS, GREY NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS, BLACK/GREY BACKPACK -NIKE LAST SEEN ON FOOT GOING WESTBOUND FROM 40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE. USE CAUTION. See www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/upa for details.
Verify this quote
UPennAlert archive: person with a weapon, 4000 Baltimorepublicsafety.upenn.edufind archived copies
Official UPennAlert archive 2026-09-20. sha256 d0ce1d4f8cc8b2676132266e14ae628bb0e8e3d45079c775e9f5e2e52c895795. SMS block transcribed from the archive page. Official THIN BUILT, GREY, BACKPACK -NIKE, and 5'10 curly apostrophe preserved.
Website narrative on the same page is a separate prose posting and was not flattened into this SMS product.
Distinct incident from 2026-04-25-university-of-pennsylvania-sansom-shooting-alert: different date and Baltimore Avenue vs 40th and Sansom.
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.

UPennAlert: PERSON WITH A WEAPON LOOKING FOR A BLACK MALE, LIGHT COMPLEXION, 5’10, THIN BUILT, WEARING A WHITE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS, GREY NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS, BLACK/GREY BACKPACK -NIKE LAST SEEN ON FOOT GOING WESTBOUND FROM 40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE. USE CAUTION. See www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/upa for details.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Source present because the branded signature UPennAlert identifies 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. present: The branded tag "UPennAlert" identifies the sending system.
    2. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    3. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    4. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    5. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    6. present: The branded "UPennAlert" signature identifies the sender.
    7. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sending system.
    8. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    9. present: The branded opening "UPennAlert" identifies the sending institution.
    10. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sending institution.
    11. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    12. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    13. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    14. present: The branded opening "UPennAlert" identifies the sending system.
    15. present: The branded opening "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and the publicsafety.upenn.edu link names campus public safety.
    16. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    17. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    18. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    19. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sending system.
    20. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, with a publicsafety.upenn.edu link naming campus public safety.
    21. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    22. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    23. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    24. present: The branded signature "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    25. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Hazard present: PERSON WITH A WEAPON names a specific armed-person threat.

    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: The headline "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    2. present: It names "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific threat.
    3. present: The headline "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    4. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific armed-person threat.
    5. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific armed-person threat.
    6. present: The header names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific armed person threat.
    7. present: "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed-person threat.
    8. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific armed threat.
    9. present: "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed-person threat.
    10. present: "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed person threat.
    11. present: "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed person threat.
    12. present: The line "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    13. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific threat.
    14. present: The headline "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed person threat.
    15. present: "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed threat.
    16. present: The heading "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    17. present: The headline "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    18. present: The heading "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific armed-person threat.
    19. present: The headline names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific threat.
    20. present: The heading "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    21. present: The line "PERSON WITH A WEAPON" names a specific threat.
    22. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific armed person threat.
    23. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific threat.
    24. present: The header names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific threat.
    25. present: It names a "PERSON WITH A WEAPON", a specific threat.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Location present: last seen westbound from 40th and Baltimore Avenue.

    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: The person was last seen going westbound from 40th and Baltimore Avenue.
    2. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a named intersection.
    3. present: Last seen "GOING WESTBOUND FROM 40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE" gives a street location.
    4. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a street location.
    5. present: It gives a last-seen place: westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    6. present: The person was last seen going westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    7. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a street location.
    8. present: It gives a last seen place of "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    9. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a named street.
    10. present: Last seen going westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE" is a street location.
    11. present: The suspect was last seen going westbound from 40th/Baltimore Avenue, a named intersection.
    12. present: The person was last seen going westbound from 40th and Baltimore Avenue.
    13. present: It locates the person "WESTBOUND FROM 40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    14. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a named intersection.
    15. present: The person was last seen going westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    16. present: The person was last seen westbound from 40th and Baltimore Avenue.
    17. present: The person was last seen "WESTBOUND FROM 40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    18. present: Last seen is "WESTBOUND FROM 40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a named intersection.
    19. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a named intersection.
    20. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    21. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE", a named place.
    22. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    23. present: It gives a last-seen place: westbound from 40th and Baltimore Avenue.
    24. present: The person was last seen going westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
    25. present: The person was last seen westbound from "40TH/BALTIMORE AVENUE".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Guidance present: USE CAUTION is a protective instruction 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: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients to take care, and they are pointed to the public safety site for details.
    2. present: It instructs recipients to "USE CAUTION".
    3. present: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients to take care, and "See ... for details" tells them to monitor updates.
    4. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    5. present: It instructs recipients to "USE CAUTION".
    6. present: Recipients are told to "USE CAUTION", a protective instruction.
    7. present: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients to take a protective stance.
    8. present: It instructs recipients to "USE CAUTION".
    9. present: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients on how to act, and the site link points them to more detail.
    10. present: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients to take a protective stance.
    11. present: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients to take a protective stance.
    12. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    13. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    14. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    15. present: "USE CAUTION" is an instruction telling recipients how to act.
    16. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    17. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    18. present: "USE CAUTION" is an instruction to recipients on how to act.
    19. present: "USE CAUTION" is a direct instruction to recipients about how to act.
    20. present: "USE CAUTION" is a direct instruction to recipients about how to act.
    21. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    22. present: It instructs recipients to "USE CAUTION".
    23. present: It instructs recipients to "USE CAUTION".
    24. present: "USE CAUTION" is a protective instruction to recipients.
    25. present: "USE CAUTION" instructs recipients to take a protective stance.
  • Timeabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Time absent: no clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.

    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: "Last seen" is not a clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    2. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    3. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, or word such as now or immediately.
    4. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately.
    5. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, now, or other recency cue from the rubric.
    6. absent: "LAST SEEN" gives no clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    7. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    8. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately.
    9. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    10. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    11. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    12. absent: "LAST SEEN" does not give a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now.
    13. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, now, or other recency cue.
    14. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately.
    15. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, now, immediately, or other listed recency cue.
    16. absent: "Last seen" is not a clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    17. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, now, immediately, or similar recency marker.
    18. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately.
    19. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    20. absent: "LAST SEEN" is a location status, not a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now.
    21. absent: "LAST SEEN" has no clock time, date, or recency word such as now.
    22. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately.
    23. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately.
    24. absent: "LAST SEEN" gives a place and direction, not a clock time, date, or recency word.
    25. absent: "LAST SEEN" is not a clock time, date, or recency term such as now.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Impact absent: a person with a weapon is named without a stated consequence or severity.

    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: A person with a weapon is named, but no deadly, dangerous, or injury language appears.
    2. absent: A person with a weapon is only the hazard name, with no stated consequence or severity.
    3. absent: Nothing states consequences or severity, only the weapon hazard and a caution instruction.
    4. absent: The armed person is named without stating what the weapon could do or how severe the risk is.
    5. absent: A person with a weapon is the hazard name, and "USE CAUTION" does not state what harm could result.
    6. absent: A person with a weapon is named without stating injury, danger, or other consequences.
    7. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no deadly, dangerous, or injury consequence is stated.
    8. absent: No consequence or severity is stated beyond naming the armed person.
    9. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence such as dangerous or may cause injury is stated.
    10. absent: A person with a weapon is the hazard name only. No deadly, dangerous, or injury wording appears.
    11. absent: The weapon hazard is named and people are told to use caution, but no consequence or severity is stated.
    12. absent: Having a weapon names the hazard, and "USE CAUTION" does not state consequences or severity.
    13. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence or severity beyond that is stated.
    14. absent: A person with a weapon is the hazard name, and "USE CAUTION" does not state what harm could occur.
    15. absent: The weapon is named, but no consequence or severity such as dangerous or may cause injury is stated.
    16. absent: Having a weapon is the hazard name, and "use caution" does not state what harm could occur.
    17. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no deadly, injury, or other consequence is stated.
    18. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence or severity such as dangerous or could cause injury is stated.
    19. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no severity such as dangerous or may cause injury is stated.
    20. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence or severity such as dangerous or life-threatening is stated.
    21. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence or severity such as dangerous is stated.
    22. absent: A person with a weapon is named without stating consequences such as dangerous or deadly.
    23. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence such as dangerous or may cause injury is stated.
    24. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence such as dangerous or life-threatening is stated.
    25. absent: A person with a weapon is named, but no consequence or severity such as dangerous or life-threatening is stated.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

Penn posts UPennAlert products on the publicsafety.upenn.edu/upa-archive board. The live 24-hour board historically 403s automated clients; this archive page is the recoverable official posting. Date of Alert on the page: September 14, 2026 8:24 pm.
Analysis

Key Findings

SMS UPennAlert for a person with a weapon, last seen westbound from 40th and Baltimore.
Outcome
Archive page marks the alert no longer active. No all-clear SMS is posted on that page.
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
    UPennAlert archive: person with a weapon, 4000 Baltimore
    publicsafety.upenn.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Pennsylvania: Person with a weapon on the 4000 block of Baltimore." Incident of September 14, 2026. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-pennsylvania-4000-baltimore-person-with-weapon-2026-09-14/

Download case JSON

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

Tags
private-r1pennsylvaniapennupennalertivyfresh-weekarmed-personUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion