Kelly Mansfield, a data input controller for the Vehicle Services Division in the Secretary of State’s Office, was among those evacuated at the Howlett Building, located in Springfield about 100 yards from the capitol building.

“I was going to break and some of my friends stopped me as I was headed outside,” Mansfield said. “They told us that we were being evacuated, that the Springfield police were outside and sending everyone home. Plus, they were preventing all incoming customers from coming in to the building to do business.”

Mansfield added that despite the situation’s unusual nature, the evacuation was orderly.

“[People were] disbelieving … in shock,” she said.