False Active Shooter Alert Causes Panic at Villanova University, No Injuries Reported
A false alarm of an active shooter on Villanova University’s campus caused widespread panic among students during their orientation, prompting a massive response from local and federal law enforcement agencies. The university’s president, Peter M. Donohue, called the incident a “cruel hoax” in a letter to the campus community, stating that no injuries were reported, and no weapons were found.
The first alert was issued around 4:35 p.m. ET during an opening mass, followed by a family picnic. The campus-wide alert read, “ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors. More info to follow.”
Following the report, chaos erupted across the campus as police and fire officials swarmed the area of the law school, with some armed officers even stationed on the roof. Buildings were cleared, and a possible shooter or victims were searched for, according to video footage from CNN affiliate WPVI.
In his letter sent shortly after 6 p.m., Donohue expressed his regret for the incident, particularly towards the first-year students and their families. “This is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you,” he said.
New student orientation and registration began on Thursday and are scheduled to run until Saturday, with classes commencing on Monday, as per the school’s academic calendar.
Similarly, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga experienced an active-shooter alert earlier in the day, resulting in a campus lockdown. Authorities later reported finding no evidence of a threat, and they are currently investigating the incident as a possible case of swatting. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has directed state police to use all available resources to identify the person responsible for the Villanova incident.
Expressing his sympathy, Shapiro said, “I know today was every parent’s worst nightmare, and every student’s biggest fear. I am profoundly grateful no one was hurt, and thankful to all members of law enforcement who ran towards reports of danger to keep Pennsylvanians safe.”
Villanova is a private Catholic university located in the suburbs of Philadelphia and is known as the alma mater of Pope Leo XIV. This story has been updated with additional information.