By NBC News and msnbc.com staff
DALLAS -- Police say a robbery suspect has commandeered the cab of a construction crane hundreds of feet above Southern Methodist University’s campus on Monday.
Officials with the Dallas Police Department said they received a call from Southern Methodist University about a man on a crane who was threatening he had a gun. Police have not confirmed whether the man was armed.
Dallas Police SWAT units were called in to establish communication with the man.
Witnesses told NBC 5' Ray Villeda they saw a man wearing a red shirt inside the control box of the crane, located on the south side of the campus. At 12:45 p.m., an NBC 5 photojournalist on the scene said he could see an arm flapping inside the crane.
The man has not moved the crane, which is powerless. It was being used to build student housing.
View NBCDFW.com's story on SWAT called to SMU campus
Witnesses said they were evacuated from campus buildings on the SMU campus. A nearby gym was also evacuated.
Southern Methodist University Campus Police told NBC News there was no class in session on Monday because of the federal holiday. School is also between its May and June sessions.
Streets from U.S. 75 toward the SMU campus on Mockingbird Lane were shut down.
Dallas police confirmed the suspect may be connected to an overnight aggravated robbery of a vehicle in the area just before 2:30 a.m. Monday.
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