COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The University of South Carolina (USC) issued an all-clear alert on Sunday after initially warning of a possible active shooter incident. This alert followed a series of false reports at various colleges, including Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which triggered panic and lockdown procedures as the fall semester commenced.

Students at USC were instructed to shelter in place as police responded to an unconfirmed report of an active shooter near the university library. After a thorough investigation, officials determined that there was no evidence of an active shooter on campus, confirming that no shots had been fired. University spokesperson Jeff Stensland reported that there were two minor injuries related to the evacuation process of the library building.

The incident at USC is one of several false reports of gunfire that have emerged across universities in the United States in recent days. The university released a statement indicating that this particular situation was still under investigation. USC is located in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, and enrolls approximately 38,000 students in a city with a population of nearly 145,000.

This alert was reminiscent of a related incident that occurred on Thursday in Pennsylvania when a caller to 911 reported a shooter at the Villanova law school, claiming that there was at least one victim. The university's alert system sent texts to students, but the president later announced that the report was a hoax.

On the same day in Tennessee, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga implemented a lockdown in response to reports of a possible active shooter in the University Center or Library. They advised students to "Run. Hide. Fight," but like USC, the lockdown was lifted after law enforcement confirmed there was no threat. University officials later stated that there was no evidence of any actual danger on campus.

The series of misleading reports has raised concerns among students and faculty members across the country, highlighting the heightened tension surrounding campus safety in recent times. As universities grapple with the implications of such incidents, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of students while addressing the issue of false alarms that can lead to unnecessary panic and distress.