VILLANOVA, Pa. – A joyous occasion marking the start of a new academic year at Villanova University descended into chaos and terror on Thursday, August 21, 2025, when a cruel and elaborate active shooter hoax sent hundreds of freshmen and their families fleeing for safety. The trending incident, which authorities are investigating as a serious swatting crime, triggered a massive multi-agency law enforcement response and left the university community deeply shaken.
The scare began around 4:30 PM ET with an anonymous 911 call to Delaware County’s Department of Emergency Services. The caller reported an active shooter armed with an AR-15 style rifle at the Charles Widger School of Law. Within a minute, Villanova’s alert system broadcast a terrifying message: “ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors.” This urgent warning prompted immediate panic, particularly as many students and their families were attending an outdoor Orientation Mass, a central event in the university’s happenings to welcome new Villanovans.
A Rapid, Widespread Response
The initial report, amplified by subsequent calls with fabricated gunshot sounds and even a claim of a wounded victim, prompted an overwhelming response from local, state, and federal law enforcement. Officers from Radnor Township, Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI, alongside units from three counties and 18 EMS teams, swarmed the campus. Videos circulating on social media captured the frantic scenes of students and parents rushing to find shelter, with overturned chairs marking the path of their flight.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer initially stated that law enforcement believed a shooter was present, committing resources to a building-by-building search. “We believe there is a shooter,” Stollsteimer told WPVI-TV, vowing to secure the campus. Students and families sheltered in closets, classrooms, dormitories, and even a campus bookstore, gripped by fear and uncertainty.
The Unveiling of a ‘Cruel Hoax’
After an intense two-hour search, authorities confirmed that the entire incident was a hoax. The all-clear was given at 6:32 PM, and Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue issued a statement declaring it a “cruel hoax.” He confirmed that there was no active shooter, no injuries, and no evidence of firearms on campus. President Donohue acknowledged the profound distress caused by the events, particularly for first-year students and their families, describing it as “not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you.”
The Trauma and the Investigation
The emotional toll on the Villanova community was significant. Parents described the experience as “every parent’s nightmare,” and students expressed deep-seated fear and anxiety. The university canceled all Thursday evening orientation events to allow students and families time to process the trauma, offering counseling and support services.
Authorities have launched an exclusive, full-scale investigation into the swatting incident. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer has pledged to “track down whoever did this, if it’s the last thing we do,” emphasizing the seriousness of the crime. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also weighed in, calling swatting illegal and directing state police to use every tool available to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable. The FBI is actively involved, utilizing forensic tools to trace the anonymous calls, a challenging task given modern technology’s ability to disguise caller origins.
A Growing National Epidemic
The Villanova incident is not isolated. Alarmingly, the same day saw another active shooter hoax at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, hours earlier. These events underscore a disturbing national trend of “swatting” – false reports of serious crimes intended to provoke a massive emergency response.
Statistics reveal the escalating nature of this problem: estimated swatting incidents in the U.S. jumped from 400 in 2011 to over 1,000 in 2019. More recently, between January 2023 and June 2024 alone, over 800 swatting incidents targeted K-12 schools. These hoaxes drain invaluable law enforcement resources, divert emergency personnel from genuine crises, and inflict profound emotional and psychological trauma on communities. The potential for tragic accidents during such high-stress responses remains a grave concern.
As the investigation into the Villanova hoax continues, authorities are determined to bring those responsible to justice, signaling a strong message against acts that weaponize emergency services and inflict widespread fear.
