US EditionVillanova University says a report of a campus shooter was a 'cruel hoax'
- Police responded on Thursday, August 21, 2025, to a report of an active shooter at Villanova University in Pennsylvania's Philadelphia suburbs.
- The report triggered a lockdown and shelter-in-place orders after students and local residents received emergency texts from police, amid ongoing new student orientation.
- The lockdown caused students to seek refuge in classrooms and closets while police cleared campus buildings; officials confirmed no injuries, firearms, or shooter presence.
- Villanova's president called the report a "cruel hoax," and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday monitored the situation while Delaware County's DA indicated challenges in managing the event.
- The false report raised concerns for student safety but resulted in no harm, underscoring the need for cautious information verification during campus emergencies.
108 Articles
108 Articles
Villanova calls a report of a campus shooter a 'cruel hoax'
VILLANOVA, Pa. — False reports of active shooters at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Thursday led to panic and temporary lockdowns at the two campuses as they kicked off their fall semesters.
Villanova says report of campus shooter was ’cruel hoax’
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- False reports of active shooters at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Thursday led to panic and temporary lockdowns at the two campuses as they kicked off their fall semesters.
‘A cruel hoax’: Active shooting reported at Villanova University campus not real, says president
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — A report of a shooter on Villanova University's campus was a “cruel hoax,” the school's president said Thursday. “There was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms on campus,” the Rev. Peter M. Donohue said in an emailed statement. Earlier in the afternoon, a text from the Villanova alert system instructed students to get to secure locations and lock and barricade all doors. A second alert from campus off…
Active shooter hoax prompts lockdown at Pope’s alma mater, Villanova University
Leadership at Pope Leo XIV’s alma mater, Villanova University in Pennsylvania, confirmed Aug. 21 that reports of an active shooter from earlier in the day were a hoax — an announcement given several hours after police responded to the active shooter alert that put the campus on lockdown.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
