Villanova University president says active shooter incident was ‘cruel hoax’

VILLANOVA, Pa. (WPVI) — The active shooter alert that forced Villanova University students to shelter in place on Thursday was a result of a cruel hoax,” according to President Rev. Peter Donohue.

“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,” Donohue said in a letter to students.

According to the university, the Department of Public Safety received an anonymous report of an active shooter in the Charles Widger School of Law on the Pennsylvania campus around 4:30 p.m.

A security alert was immediately issued, telling students to lock and barricade doors. Videos posted on social media showed a crowd being rushed inside a building on campus.

After a thorough search of the campus, the incident was determined to be a hoax. A subsequent security alert stated the incident was resolved, saying, “The campus is all clear. You no longer need to shelter in place.”

The university released a statement saying, “We know this false report caused fear and disruption as we begin our academic year. We are deeply grateful to our Public Safety team, Radnor Police, local law enforcement, and our staff and student leaders for responding swiftly and compassionately. We are grateful that our community is safe.”

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. Because if this was indeed a cruel hoax. This is a crime, and we will track you down if it’s the last thing we do,” said Stollsteimer.

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.”

Chopper 6 showed several emergency vehicles on the scene and armed officers milling about at the entrance of a parking garage. Law enforcement vehicles were also lined up at the entrance to campus.

Brandon Ambrosino, a professor of theology and ethics at Villanova who was not on campus at the time, said most faculty members were not on campus, but students moved in on Wednesday. He said he and colleagues were struggling to find information about the active shooter during the chaotic afternoon.

“None of my colleagues know what’s happening. We’re messaging back and forth,” Ambrosino said.

Courtenay Harris Bond was walking near the law school with her husband and her son, a freshman, when word spread of the supposed shooting.

“Really tough way to start freshman year at college,” she said shortly after being given the all-clear to leave the bookstore where the family spent the lockdown.

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

The Augustinian school got extra attention this year as the alma mater of new Pope Leo XIV.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.