An armed man entered an Elizabeth City State University classroom Friday, prompting campus police to lock down the campus, sit back and watch.

The "gunman" — a campus police officer — helped initiate a test of ECSU's emergency response procedures.

The drill allowed campus police to evaluate their procedures and see how students would react if the campus is shut down.

"People were curious," said campus police Chief Samuel Beamon. "Once security officers explained this was an emergency drill, they were real cooperative."

The drill began around 1:30 p.m. when the "gunman" entered Moore Hall. The drill lasted for approximately 12 minutes.

During that time, the campus community was notified using the PIER (Public Information Emergency Response) system, which allows for mass phone and text communications during emergencies. Parts of the campus were also blocked off.

During a lockdown, Beamon said students may be asked to remain in their buildings or they may be transferred to another building, depending on the situation.

He said there are a large number of people on the campus at any given time and it is hard to tell how they will all react.

While students were told a drill was coming, they did not know exactly when the exercise would take place, Beamon said.

"Overall, we're very pleased," Beamon said. "The students handled it in a professional manner."

Beamon said the drill was aimed at fostering awareness among students and encouraged them to

contact police if they encounter someone or something suspicious.

"It's better that they call us and it turns out to be nothing than if they don't call us and it turns out to be something," he said.

Police met following the drill to evaluate reactions and discuss possible changes to their response. The drill comes less than two weeks after a shooting at Northern Illinois University left six people dead, including the perpetrator.

"We have to be conscious of situations across the country," said Kesha Williams, ECSU marketing specialist.

The university will hold three to four additional drills during the year. The drills will simulate different kinds of emergencies, including natural disasters.