Villanova University says active shooter report was a 'cruel hoax'

Villanova University said a report of a possible shooter at its law school was a "cruel hoax," after it issued an alert warning of an active shooter on its Pennsylvania campus on Thursday.

"Mercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax -- there was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus," Villanova President Rev. Peter Donohue said in a statement to the school community. "While that is a blessing and a relief, I know today's events have shaken our entire community."

The incident, which occurred as the school was celebrating its orientation mass to welcome new students, sparked a large local and federal law enforcement response, and "panic and terror ensued," Donohue said.

The school had issued an active shooter alert, telling students to stay clear of Law School Scarpa Hall and lock and barricade doors while police conducted sweeps of the campus.

It was later updated to report that the incident was resolved, saying, "The campus is all clear. You no longer need to shelter in place."

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said his office and the FBI are going to investigate.

"We're all going to work to try to get to the bottom of who might have done this," he said during a press briefing Thursday evening.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro noted that swatting is illegal, and that he has directed Pennsylvania State Police to "use every tool at our disposal to find the person or people who called in this fake threat and hold them accountable."

"I know today was every parent's nightmare, and every student's biggest fear," he said in a statement on X. "I'm profoundly grateful no one was hurt, and thankful to all members of law enforcement who ran towards reports of danger to keep Pennsylvanians safe."

Police received a call around 4:30 p.m. Thursday saying there was an active shooter in the law school building, and at least one victim was injured, according to Stollsteimer.

"That has turned out not to be true," he said. "There was never an active shooter on the campus."

The Radnor Township Police Department, which responded to the campus, said there were no reported victims as police continued to clear buildings.

"It is safe," Radnor Township Superintendent of Police Christopher Flanagan said at the briefing. "Right now we're reporting no injuries."

He reiterated that such hoaxes are a crime.

"This is a serious issue. It is a crime. It is wrong. We are taking care of that," he said.

The campus is located approximately 12 miles northwest of Philadelphia's Center City.

Another unfounded active shooter scare occurred earlier Thursday at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.

Around 12:30 p.m., a 911 call came in "indicating that there was an active shooter" at the campus, the school said. State, county and federal agencies responded, and members of the school community were advised to "Run. Hide. Fight."

After several areas of the campus were cleared, there was no evidence of any shooting or injuries reported, the university said.

That incident is also under investigation by multiple agencies, including the FBI, the school said.