{"id":161512,"date":"2025-08-21T22:42:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T22:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/live-updates-situation-at-villanova-university-was-cruel-hoax-president-says-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T22:42:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T22:42:19","slug":"live-updates-situation-at-villanova-university-was-cruel-hoax-president-says-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/live-updates-situation-at-villanova-university-was-cruel-hoax-president-says-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Situation at Villanova University was 'cruel hoax,' president says – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
The Villanova hoax is the second to impact American colleges today.\u00a0
Earlier today, there was an active shooter report on the University of Tennessee Chattanooga campus, which was determined to be a false threat<\/a>.
“<\/strong>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.
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said today’s active shooter report at Villanova was “unfounded” and a “cruel swatting incident \u2014 when someone calls in a fake threat to induce panic.”
“Swatting is illegal. I\u2019ve directed @PAStatePolice<\/a> 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<\/a>.
Shapiro thanked law enforcement who raced to the scene.
“I know today was every parent\u2019s nightmare, and every student\u2019s biggest fear. I\u2019m 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.
NBC News<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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.
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Emma Caughlan<\/span><\/span><\/span>
The reported active shooter incident on Villanova\u2019s campus today was a \u201ccruel hoax,\u201d the university\u2019s president, Rev.\u00a0Peter M.\u00a0Donohue, said.\u00a0
\u201cMercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax \u2014 there was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus,\u201d he wrote in an email to the school community.\u00a0
\u201cWhile that is a blessing and relief, I know today\u2019s events have shaken our entire community,\u201d Donohue added.\u00a0
He noted the news about a possible shooter at the law school came in during an orientation Mass welcoming new students and their families.
\u201cI 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.\u201d\u00a0
He also apologized to incoming students and their loved ones, saying: \u201cThis is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you.\u201d
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Shortly after 6 p.m., the Villanova University website had an alert saying “incident on campus resolved.”
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Radnor Township police said in an update<\/a> shortly before 6 p.m. that units are continuing to clear buildings at Villanova University, and the incident \u201cremains ACTIVE.\u201d
Thus far there are no reported victims.\u00a0
Those on campus are asked to continue sheltering in place.\u00a0
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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.
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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.
Marlene Lenthang<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Villanova University issued an active shooter alert for its campus this afternoon.
\u201cMove to secure location. Lock\/barricade doors,\u201d the alert said.\u00a0
Today marked the start of new student orientation and registration ahead of the start of the fall 2025 semester.
NBC News
© 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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