False shooter report sparks panic: Villanova University receives ‘hoax’ call; triggers campus lockdown

Villanova says a report of a campus shooter was a ‘cruel hoax’ (Pic credit: AP)

False reports of active shooters at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sparked panic and temporary lockdowns on both campuses on Thursday. In Pennsylvania, a 911 call around 4:30 pm (local time) claimed a shooter was inside a Villanova law school building, with at least one victim reported wounded. Students received emergency alerts stating: “ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors.” University president Rev. Peter M Donohue later confirmed it was a hoax. “Today, as we are celebrating Orientation Mass to welcome our newest Villanovans and their families to our community, panic and terror ensued,” he said in a statement. “Mercifully, no one was injured and we now know it was a cruel hoax.” The incident triggered a massive law enforcement response, with Delaware County district attorney Jack Stollsteimer describing the operation: “Law enforcement for the entire tri-state area is here. We are going door to door, room to room, to make this campus safe.” At a press briefing later, Stollsteimer said: “If this was indeed a cruel hoax, this is a crime.” Authorities confirmed a full investigation is underway. Roughly four hours earlier, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also locked down its campus following reports of a possible shooter at the University Centre or library. Students were instructed to “Run. Hide. Fight.”The alert was lifted within an hour after law enforcement, including the FBI, found no credible threat. Both incidents come as students were returning to campus, with orientation programmes underway and classes set to begin next week.