False Active Shooter Report Sparks Lockdown at Villanova University

Students and families at Villanova University were forced to shelter in place on the first day of orientation after a false report of an active shooter triggered a massive law enforcement response.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, when an alert was sent to the campus community around 4:35 p.m. ET, just as the university was holding its opening mass ahead of a family picnic. Local and federal authorities rushed to the scene as precautionary measures were put in place.

In a letter to students and staff, university president Peter M. Donohue condemned the false alarm as a “cruel hoax.” He confirmed that no weapons were found and no injuries were reported following thorough security checks.

The scare disrupted what was meant to be a celebratory start for new students and their families, underscoring the heightened sensitivity around campus safety in the United States. Authorities are now investigating the source of the false report.