VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — On Thursday, false reports of active shooters caused panic and temporary lockdowns at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, coinciding with the start of their fall semesters. In Pennsylvania, a 911 call was received at approximately 4:30 p.m. reporting a shooter in a law school building at Villanova, claiming there was at least one injured victim. Students received immediate alerts from the university, instructing them to move to secure locations and lock or barricade doors.
The university's president, Rev. Peter M. Donohue, later confirmed that the alarming reports were a hoax, expressing relief that no one had been injured during the chaotic incident. "Today, as we are celebrating Orientation Mass to welcome our newest Villanovans and their families to our community, panic and terror ensued," he stated. "Mercifully, no one was injured and we now know it was a cruel hoax."
Earlier in the day, just a few hours prior, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga had also implemented a campus lockdown in response to similar reports, indicating a possible active shooter in the University Center or Library. The campus community was urged to "Run. Hide. Fight," while law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, responded quickly to investigate. The lockdown was lifted less than an hour later when no evidence of a threat was found.
At Villanova University, the initial report involved a call describing a man armed with an AR-15-style weapon, according to Delaware County spokesperson Michael Connolly. The incident escalated with multiple calls suggesting gunshot-like sounds in the background, and about 30 minutes after the first report, another call came in claiming that someone had suffered a gunshot wound. This alarming information prompted police to search the campus thoroughly, leading some law enforcement officials to believe that an active shooter was indeed present.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed the distress of the situation, labeling it "every parent's nightmare and every student's biggest fear." He directed state police to utilize all available resources to identify and hold accountable those who had initiated the false threats.
During the episode, Courtenay Harris Bond described her experience as she was accompanying her son, a freshman at Villanova, near the law school at the time of the incident. After spending the lockdown in a bookstore, she remarked, "Really tough way to start the freshman year at college."
Villanova University, a private Catholic institution located in the Philadelphia suburbs, borders the affluent Main Line neighborhoods of Lower Merion Township and Radnor Township. This academic year, the university attracted additional attention as the alma mater of new Pope Leo XIV.
This disturbing episode underscores the alarming trend of hoax threats affecting educational institutions, creating a climate of fear among students, parents, and staff alike. The repercussions of such false reports can be devastating, impacting community trust and the overall educational experience.
