More than 50,000 people were alerted Wednesday that a “dangerous and violent” person with outstanding warrants was at large. But the alert didn’t look like others sent by local agencies in the past, and many residents assumed it was a scam text.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - A shelter-in-place order has been issued at McNeese State University, officials confirmed. Around 4:18 p.m., students received a text message saying, “This is not a drill. McNeese State University Police have called an immediate Shelter In Place.”