Villanova says a report of a campus shooter was a cruel hoax

False reports of active shooters at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga caused significant panic and temporary lockdowns as fall semester activities commenced. At Villanova, a 911 call at 4:30 p. m. falsely reported a shooter in the law school building, leading to alerts for students to secure themselves. Villanova's president confirmed the incident was a cruel hoax, stating, “Mercifully, no one was injured.

” Earlier in the day, UTC issued a lockdown alert for a possible shooter in the University Center or Library, which was lifted after law enforcement found no threats. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the act, instructing state police to use all available resources to identify the caller. This incident disrupted student orientation events, creating anxiety among families. Villanova University, a private Catholic institution, is located in a wealthy area of Philadelphia. The school gained additional attention this year as the alma mater of the new Pope Leo XIV.