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The Williams College campus was locked down for a little more than hour midday on Sunday.
Updated December 22, 2024 04:22PM

Williamstown Police Looking for Suspects After Cole Avenue Shooting

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com
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UPDATE: A notification from the town has indicated that the general public is not in danger. Williams College Sunday afternoon ended its lockdown. Single victim was taken away from the scene by ambulance.
 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — One person was shot with a firearm at 330 Cole Ave. on Sunday morning, triggering an hour-long lockdown of Williams College and a manhunt for an armed suspect.
 
A reverse 911 call from the town at 12:39 Sunday afternoon indicated that Williamstown Police and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident.
 
"At this time, based on evidence seen, this appears to be a specific, targeted incident," the reverse 911 call indicated. "The general public not in danger at this time. This [call] is for public awareness only."
 
The robocall indicates that the shooting took place at 10:15 a.m.
 
Williams announced the lockdown in an 11:38 text (and shortly after an email) to the college community. The college sent a text to its community at 12:55 p.m. saying it was ending the lockdown.
 
Williamstown Police on Sunday afternoon confirmed the lone victim in the shooting was alive when transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
 
The Berkshire District Attorney's office Sunday at about 4 p.m. issued a news release saying the victim is "expected to survive."
 
According to the morning email sent to the college community, police were investigating the incident and "Suspects are at large, armed and considered dangerous."
 
The email alert said to remain indoors and not admit anyone into college buildings without identification.
 
"If off campus, stay away," read the email, signed by college's director of campus safety and director of emergency management.
 
The college said its Campus Security Service is working with the the Williamstown Police Department. The email indicated that updates will be posted on williams.edu or the college's Twitter account.
 
Williams College's final exams for the fall semester ended on Monday, Dec. 16. The winter break for faculty and staff began on Friday, Dec. 20. The only college building scheduled to be open to the public on Sunday, the Williams College Museum of Art, shut down for the day after the campus lockdown was ordered.

 


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Williamstown Housing Trust Clarifies Status of Contributions to Habitat Project

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A representative of Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity appeared before the board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust on Wednesday to make sure the body still was committed to a $100,000 contribution toward the first home to be built in a subdivision off Summer Street.
 
Keith Davis told the board that his understanding was the board committed at its Aug. 20, 2025, meeting to make the contribution in addition to the $120,000 the trustees pledged to help build infrastructure to serve the planned four-home subdivision.
 
Although the first payment was received, Davis was concerned that the board was not accounting for the $100,000 contribution at its monthly meeting when it received a report from the trust's treasurer on the body's available funds.
 
"When I listen to your meetings and don't hear the commitment for $100,000, that makes me a little nervous," Davis said. "Because that is a major contribution."
 
The three trustees who were on the board last summer all agreed that the commitment for the second six-figure contribution was made.
 
Then-treasurer Ruth Harrison did not choose to serve another term after her term expired on June 30.
 
Davis told the panel that something in one of her recent treasurer's report caught his attention.
 
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