Campus Alert Archive
WKU

WKU Alert: 'No threat at this time' as Pre-Dawn Shots Hit a Bowling Green Apartment Complex

KYshootingadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On the evening of February 12, 2026, Bowling Green Police were dispatched to reports of shots fired near The Registry apartments along Old Morgantown Road and University Boulevard, just off the WKU campus. WKU issued a sequence of WKU Alerts at 7:39, 7:47, and 8:11 p.m. CST, all emphasizing 'No threat at this time' to the campus. The shooting was later upgraded to a homicide investigation after the victim, Diego Andres Lopez-Urdaneta, died from his injuries.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
1
Injured
0
Institution
Western Kentucky University
Public R2 · KY
~16,000 studentsWKU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

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 ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction158 chars
WKU Alert: BGPD investigating reported shots fired in the area of Old Morgantown Road near the Registry. No threat at this time to WKU campus. Avoid the area.

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

Reconstructed from WKU Herald and WBKO reporting; the first WKU Alert went out at 7:39 p.m. CST, followed by a 7:47 p.m. alert reporting shots fired at Old Morgantown Road and University Boulevard
The alert deliberately separated the shots-fired report from any campus threat, reflecting WKU's protocol of including a 'no threat' clause when off-campus shootings occur near campus housing complexes
The Registry is a privately-owned apartment complex on Old Morgantown Road that houses many WKU students but is not WKU property
UPDATESMS
Verified verbatimWKU Herald reporting quoting the WKU Alert text directly144 chars
WKU Alert: Law enforcement is investigating the reported alleged incident near campus. No threat at this time. Updates will follow as available.
Verbatim text quoted in WKU Herald coverage; this was the third alert that evening, sent at 8:11 p.m. CST after earlier 7:39 p.m. and 7:47 p.m. alerts
The 'No threat at this time' framing was repeated across the alert sequence — a deliberate choice that minimizes lockdown disruption while keeping the community informed
The shooting victim, Diego Andres Lopez-Urdaneta, was found with a gunshot wound to the head inside a vehicle on University Boulevard near Old Morgantown Road; he was hospitalized and later died, reclassifying the incident as a homicide
Context

Background

On the evening of Thursday, February 12, 2026, Bowling Green Police were dispatched to a shots-fired report near The Registry apartments on Old Morgantown Road, a private apartment complex housing many WKU students. WKU's WKU Alert system issued an initial alert at 7:39 p.m. CST, a second at 7:47 p.m. reporting shots fired at Old Morgantown Road and University Boulevard, and a third at 8:11 p.m. reaffirming there was 'No threat at this time' to campus. Officers found Diego Andres Lopez-Urdaneta inside a vehicle on the 300 block of University Boulevard with a gunshot wound to the head; he was hospitalized and died days later, reclassifying the incident as a homicide. Bryan Aguero Lopez, 22, was indicted by a Warren County grand jury for murder, and Christopher Meza-Ramirez, 20, was charged with first-degree assault, with additional charges against more individuals bringing the total to five people indicted. The incident illustrates the persistent challenge of off-campus student housing complexes that are within walking distance of campus but not subject to university-controlled security: even with a 'no threat' alert framing, a fatal shooting at The Registry directly affected the WKU community.
Analysis

Key Findings

WKU's repeated use of the 'No threat at this time' clause across both alerts in the sequence shows a calibrated approach that informs without alarming, but also raises questions about under-warning when an off-campus shooting affects a student-heavy housing complex
The incident was initially treated as a shots-fired call with the victim in critical condition, then reclassified as a homicide days later when Diego Andres Lopez-Urdaneta died — a reminder that initial alert framings can become inadequate as facts develop, requiring follow-up communications
Student housing complexes like The Registry sit in a regulatory gap — within walking distance of campus and home to many students, but not subject to university security or Clery reporting
Outcome
Diego Andres Lopez-Urdaneta died from a gunshot wound to the head; the case was reclassified as a homicide. Bryan Aguero Lopez, 22, was indicted by a Warren County grand jury for murder and tampering with physical evidence, and Christopher Meza-Ramirez, 20, was charged with first-degree assault / complicity to commit murder. Five people were ultimately indicted in connection with the deadly shooting.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    'No threat' after shots fired near the Registry (WKU Herald)
    wkuherald.com
  2. News
    No threat detected after report of shots fired near Registry apartments (WBKO)
    wbko.com
  3. News
    1 man (Diego Lopez-Urdaneta) dead, 2 arrested following WKU shooting investigation (FOX 56)
    fox56news.com
  4. News
    Five indicted in deadly BG shooting (Bowling Green Daily News)
    bgdailynews.com
  5. News
    Shooting near WKU campus turns into homicide case (WBKO)
    wbko.com
  6. Official
    WKU Alert (Western Kentucky University)
    wku.edu
Tags
shots-firedkentuckypublic-universityoff-campusapartment-complexhomicidewku-alertno-threat-framing
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion