Chaos enveloped Villanova University yesterday afternoon when an unfounded report of an active shooter triggered a massive law enforcement response and sent students scrambling for safety during orientation events. Delaware County's Department of Emergency Services received a 911 call at around 4:33 p.m. with claims of a man with an AR-15-style weapon on campus, as reported by NBC Philadelphia, followed by more calls featuring gunshot-like sounds, which later were part of a cruel hoax.
In the minutes that unfolded, Villanova University issued an active shooter alert, urging the campus community to find secure locations and barricade themselves. The officials received another call at 5:06 p.m. reporting an actual gunshot wound, leading to further panic. A shelter-in-place order was instituted, with emergency services and officers from various agencies—numbering close to 18 EMS units—swiftly congregating at the school and establishing an Emergency Operations Center, according to FOX 29.
However, after exhaustive sweeps of the campus, no evidence of a shooter or injuries was discovered, and by 6:32 p.m., the lockdown was lifted. The Delaware County District Attorney and the FBI are probing into the origins of the misleading reports which Villanova President Rev. Peter Donohue called a "cruel hoax" in a statement to the school and acknowledged the "panic and terror" it incited, as noted by ABC News.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro strongly condemned the incident, labeling it a swatting episode and illegal. The Governor directed state police to investigate fully and hold the perpetrators accountable, as he acknowledged the profound fear and nightmare such an incident represents for parents and students. The gravity of the event was further underscored because Villanova this year celebrated the ascent of one of its own to papal heights, now known as Pope Leo XIV, adding a layer of complexity to the authorities' response to ensure safety at a university thrust into a brighter spotlight, as per a report by FOX 29.
