Santa Fe College student, Victoria Venitez usually walks by the spot an armed man was spotted at on campus this afternoon.

She wasn't aware of the incident and didn't get campus-wide warnings because she wasn't signed up for Santa Fe's Emergency Notification System.

In shock, Venitez had this to say, "I always frequent 'S' building. I was walking probably right by this armed person and didn't even notice."

Police sent out text messages and phone calls to students and staff using the alert system. 

Santa Fe College Police Chief, Ed Book says, "What we ask people to do in our initial notifications are things like what we call, 'Shelter in Place,' which tells people if they're in a classroom or building to stay there. That offers their best, safest option."

An option and not an order for many students Santa Fe College campus who went about their business as usual.

It started with a tip in the early afternoon from a student to the police and was followed by a search of the Northwest Santa Fe campus that lasted more than an hour.

Alachua County Sheriff's Deputies and Campus police combed the area looking for what they describe as a "black male." 

Those who did sign up for the system eventually received an all clear message when police determined the gunman was gone.

Santa Fe College Police have confirmed that the subject was involved in an argument with a victim and that the two know each other. Chris Gilmore TV20 News.