Villanova University Active Shooter Report Turns Out to Be a Hoax

On Thursday, an alarming report emerged about an active shooter at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, which authorities later deemed a "cruel hoax." The university notified the community around 4:30 p.m. to seek safety by locking doors and moving to secure locations after allegations of a shooter in the Charles Widger School of Law surfaced during a campus Mass.

In a letter sent to students and their families, Villanova University President Rev. Peter Donohue noted that the initial reports drew an immediate response from law enforcement and emergency services, which included local police, Pennsylvania State Police, and federal agencies. By 5:47 p.m., authorities reported that there were no victims and confirmed there had never been an active shooter incident on campus.

Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his intent to utilize all resources to investigate the false report, highlighting the fear that such threats evoke for families and students. The shelter-in-place order was lifted at 6:32 p.m. Despite the ordeal, Donohue apologized to students and families for the distress experienced that day, emphasizing the difficult start to their college experience.

Notably, reports to 911 indicated that calls about an armed man with an AR-15-style weapon had been made, but these turned out to be incorrect. As many as 18 emergency medical service units responded to the campus, ready to assist in case anyone was hurt. Despite the chaos, Donohue pointed out in his communication the need for community support in the aftermath of the stir.

The Miller family, present on campus for orientation, recalled the panic as they received alerts during Mass. They were ushered into a nearby building and provided with updates, making them feel secure amidst the chaos. Parents expressed their outrage against the perpetrator of the hoax, with father Corey Miller condemning such actions and emphasizing the unfortunate implications of such threats.

Coincidentally, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also faced a similar false alarm regarding an active shooter earlier on the same day, underscoring a troubling trend in which multiple institutions were targeted with threats that ultimately led nowhere.