Active shooter report at Villanova University was a ‘cruel hoax,’ no injuries reported

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An active shooter report that caused Villanova University in Delaware County to shelter in place was 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.

Police responded to the university around 4:30 p.m. Thursday after a shelter in place order sent students scrambling. A second security alert from the school asked people to avoid the Law School’s Scarpa Hall and to lock and barricade doors.

After sweeping the university, Radnor Township police said there were no injuries and no shooter. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer told our news partner, 6abc, that a full investigation into the incident will be conducted.

“My office, the Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, we’re all going to work to try to get to the bottom of who might have done this,” Stollsteimer said. “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.”

‘It was really scary’: Villanova students react

Will Buckley, 19, was at Mass when he spotted scores of people running away. Upon hearing about an alleged shooter, he took shelter at a nearby dormitory.

“It was really scary for everyone,” the sophomore said.

Rumors were running rampant. Buckley, a transfer student, called his mom while he waited for more information. That’s when someone showed him an email alerting the Villanova community that it was a hoax.

“It was definitely relieving, hearing that everything’s alright,” Buckley said. “I wanted to make sure, but apparently everything’s alright, so I’m really grateful. I was praying pretty hard that no one was injured or dead.”

Philip Wang, 25, said he was “super worried” when he received word of a possible active shooter.

“Fortunately, we were in the bookstore, so it was a safer place compared to the outside,” the second-year graduate student said.

He was glad everything was “OK” after the scene calmed down.

“Hopefully, I won’t see this happening again,” Wang said.

Law enforcement to investigate origins of hoax

In a social media post, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called the situation a “cruel swatting incident” and said he directed state police to investigate it thoroughly.

“I know today was every parent’s nightmare, and every student’s biggest fear,” Shapiro said. “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.”

Villanova Police Chief David Tedjeske thanked first responders and commended students for acting quickly when the alert was sent out. He also said an investigation will look into where the hoax originated.

“Somebody did make a call,” Tedjeske said. “We are working right now, my forensics team as well as the FBI … We are going to make sure we do use every tool in the toolbox to trace these calls.”

In a statement to WHYY News, University Public Relations Director Krissy Woods said Villanova leaders are “grateful that our community is safe.”

“We know this false report caused fear and disruption as we begin our academic year,” Woods said. “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.”

Reports of the shooting came as the university is holding Opening Day, with its Opening Mass being scheduled to conclude at 5:15 p.m. and the Family Picnic to end at 6:15 p.m.

Videos posted on social media showed a crowd being rushed inside a building. Around 5:30 p.m., live TV coverage showed heavily armed officers entering the law school building.

Villanova canceled Thursday evening’s scheduled orientation events for new students to give them more time to process the trauma with their families. Normal activities are scheduled to resume Friday morning.

“Together, as I always say in life, we will get through this,” said Kathleen Byrnes, vice president for the Division of Student Life at Villanova, during the closing portion of the Opening Day event.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.