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The Villanova hoax is the second to impact American colleges today.
Earlier today, there was an active shooter report on the University of Tennessee Chattanooga campus, which was determined to be a false threat.
“There was no evidence of any shooting or other threat to the University community, and no injuries were reported,” the Tennessee university’s police department said.
The incident is under investigation by local law enforcement as well as the FBI.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said today’s active shooter report at Villanova was “unfounded” and a “cruel swatting incident — when someone calls in a fake threat to induce panic.”
“Swatting is illegal. I’ve directed @PAStatePolice to work alongside their partners and use every tool at our disposal to find the person or people who called in this fake threat and hold them accountable,” he wrote on X.
Shapiro thanked law enforcement who raced to the scene.
“I know today was every parent’s nightmare, and every student’s biggest fear. I’m profoundly grateful no one was hurt,” he said.
The university said in a statement that the school’s Department of Public Safety received an anonymous report around 4:30 p.m. of an active shooter in the Charles Widger School of Law. The report was determined to be false and a hoax, it said.
Students at Villanova University were alerted to reports of an active shooter situation on campus today. Officials later said the report of a shooting at the law school was a hoax.
The reported active shooter incident on Villanova’s campus today was a “cruel hoax,” the university’s president, Rev. Peter M. Donohue, said.
“Mercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax — there was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus,” he wrote in an email to the school community.
“While that is a blessing and relief, I know today’s events have shaken our entire community,” Donohue added.
He noted the news about a possible shooter at the law school came in during an orientation Mass welcoming new students and their families.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in securing the safety of our community, especially our Villanova Public Safety department and the first responders from Radnor Police and other local police departments,” he said. “I would also like to thank our Orientation Counselors and all of the Villanova staff in attendance at the Orientation Mass, who responded calmly and compassionately to a very frightening and unnerving situation.”
He also apologized to incoming students and their loved ones, saying: “This is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you.”
Shortly after 6 p.m., the Villanova University website had an alert saying “incident on campus resolved.”
Radnor Township police said in an update shortly before 6 p.m. that units are continuing to clear buildings at Villanova University, and the incident “remains ACTIVE.”
Thus far there are no reported victims.
Those on campus are asked to continue sheltering in place.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said state police, local and federal law enforcement are all at Villanova University responding to the active shooter report.
“Avoid the area and follow the direction of local authorities. We will share additional information as it becomes available,” the governor wrote on X.
The Radnor Township Police Department said it was on site at Villanova University for an active shooter report.
“All nearby residents and students are asked to SHELTER IN PLACE AT this time,” police said.
Villanova University issued an active shooter alert for its campus this afternoon.
“Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors,” the alert said.
Today marked the start of new student orientation and registration ahead of the start of the fall 2025 semester.
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