Things got tense but briefly at UNLV's Student Union on Friday afternoon after a hoax 911 call prompted a heavy law enforcement response and a shelter-in-place order. Within a short time, officers cleared the building, students and staff were allowed back to normal routines, and university officials stressed there was no active threat on campus.
What happened
University Police Department officers and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded to the Student Union just after 3:30 p.m. Friday, and people inside were told to shelter in place while officers swept the building, according to FOX5. Investigators quickly determined the call was a swatting incident, a false report intended to draw an emergency response, and the Student Union was cleared and allowed to resume normal operations. Authorities said the investigation into who made the hoax call is ongoing.
Why swatting is dangerous
According to the FBI, swatting is a malicious tactic that can put both victims and first responders at risk and has led to injuries and deaths in past cases. Federal officials note these hoaxes pull critical emergency resources away from real crises and can be prosecuted as serious crimes.
Campus trend
Hoax threats have been hitting college campuses with increasing frequency in recent years. Campus Safety Magazine reported a surge in false active shooter and bomb reports that forced evacuations or lockdowns at dozens of universities last academic year. Security officials say the incidents are often coordinated and technically sophisticated, which can make the follow up investigations lengthy and resource intensive.
What students should know
UNLV's emergency guidance lays out shelter-in-place and evacuation procedures and urges students to follow official alerts and directions from University Police. The university also advises keeping phones charged and staying where you are until officials issue an all clear, according to the UNLV Student Union.
"The student union is open, and there is no threat to campus," university officials said, per FOX5. UPD and LVMPD officers said they will keep a visible presence in the area as a safety precaution while detectives continue the investigation.
