University of South Carolina Campus Library Shooting Report Turns Out to Be Swatting Hoax

The University of South Carolina (USC) experienced a false active shooter incident at its Thomas Cooper Library on Sunday, confirmed a university spokesperson.

According to Jeff Stensland, USCPD dispatch received two separate calls reporting an active shooter at the library, the first at 6:30:42 PM and the second at 6:32:20 PM. Both calls were initiated by an unknown male who simulated gunfire in the background. Currently, there is no evidence suggesting the calls originated from campus premises.

The event in Columbia, South Carolina, follows closely after Villanova University encountered a second false active shooter report within a week, as reported by Radnor Township police in Pennsylvania where the university is located.

Last Thursday, Villanova and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga were both put on lockdown due to reports of an active shooter. The Tennessee incident is under investigation as a potential swatting case, according to a previous law enforcement source briefed by CNN.

Swatting involves making a false report to police to trick them into believing a serious crime such as a mass shooting, imminent bombing, or hostage-taking has taken place at a specific location.

Upon receiving an unconfirmed active shooter report, Stensland informed CNN affiliate WIS-TV that there were no injuries reported and no confirmation of a shooter in the library. USC issued its first alert shortly after 6:30 PM, followed by a description of a possible suspect.

Around 7:10 PM, another alert stated that there was no evidence of an active shooter, although police were still searching the area. The library was cleared floor by floor as a precautionary measure, Stensland added.

This story has been updated to include additional details.