False Active Shooter Reports Cause Panic at Two Universities

On Thursday, both Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga experienced temporary lockdowns due to false reports of active shooters. These incidents occurred as the universities were beginning their fall semesters, causing widespread panic.

At Villanova University in Pennsylvania, a 911 call around 4:30 p.m. reported a shooter in a law school building, with at least one person injured. The university's alert system sent out texts to students, instructing them to move to secure locations and lock down their doors. The university president later confirmed that the report was a hoax.

Earlier in the day, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also went into lockdown. Students were informed of a possible active shooter in the University Center or Library and were given instructions to run, hide, or fight. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, responded to the scene. The lockdown was lifted within an hour after officials determined there was no actual threat.

The false reports at Villanova prompted a significant police response, with some law enforcement officials initially believing there was a shooter on campus. The incident occurred during new student orientation, with classes scheduled to begin the following week. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his concern and stated that state police would use all available resources to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the fake threat.