A report of a shooter on Villanova University campus that sparked panic among students and drew a heavy police presence was a “cruel hoax,” the school’s president said Thursday.
Families, students, and faculty were thrown into panic, sheltering in place and running for safety—only to later learn that the entire ordeal had been a hoax.
According to Radnor Township Police, the report of gunfire was sparked by a 911 call claiming there was an active shooter at Villanova’s Law School Scarpa Hall, located on the university’s West Campus.
The caller even alleged there was already one deceased victim. The alarming detail immediately escalated the response, prompting law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels to rush to the scene.
University President Rev. Peter Donohue later confirmed what police had determined: there was no gunman, no shots fired, and no evidence of weapons on school grounds. “Today, as we were celebrating Orientation Mass to welcome our newest Villanovans and their families to our community, panic and terror ensued with the news of a possible shooter at the Law School,” Donohue wrote in a message to the university community. “Mercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax.”
Another video surfaces from Villanova University in Pennsylvania as police and campus officials respond to reports of an active shooter.pic.twitter.com/FUNlQJ3Evi
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) August 21, 2025
The hoax came at a uniquely vulnerable time. Thursday was move-in day for first-year students, a moment meant to mark the beginning of their college experience.
Parents were unloading cars, carrying boxes into dorm rooms, and taking part in orientation activities designed to ease the transition for both students and families.
Instead, scenes of fear unfolded across campus. Alarming videos posted to social media showed families and students fleeing an outdoor mass, flipping chairs in their rush to escape.
Others barricaded themselves inside classrooms and closets, texting loved ones to let them know they were hiding. Some crouched behind walls as heavily armed officers stormed campus, moving cautiously as if confronting a real threat.
Luis Romero, a local reporter on the scene, described the atmosphere as “sheer chaos,” with students visibly trembling as they tried to make sense of the situation.
Because the hoax was designed to mimic the conditions of an actual mass shooting, authorities responded with overwhelming force. Law enforcement vehicles lined the streets, officers carried rifles across campus lawns, and helicopters circled overhead.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that state police were assisting in the response alongside federal agencies. “Federal, state, and local law enforcement were on site within minutes,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We are grateful that no one was harmed.”
Senator Dave McCormick also acknowledged the incident, writing that he was “aware and monitoring the situation” and keeping the Villanova community “in his prayers.”
The false report at Villanova was not an isolated incident. In fact, it was one of several swatting-style calls placed to different locations across the country that same day. Just minutes from campus, the King of Prussia Mall—one of the largest shopping malls in America—also received a false shooting report. Later in the afternoon, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was placed under lockdown after another unfounded alert.
These kinds of false alarms, known as “swatting,” have become an increasing concern for law enforcement. By exploiting public fear of school and mass shootings, perpetrators can generate large-scale panic and tie up emergency resources. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer confirmed that the Villanova case is being investigated as part of this troubling trend.
Once the all-clear was given, President Donohue stepped outside a campus building to personally address students and families who were still shaken.
He acknowledged the fear everyone had just endured and stressed the importance of healing as a community. “While today’s events ended without tragedy, the emotions and trauma felt by our students, families, faculty, and staff are very real,” he said.
For many parents, the incident was especially unsettling. The first day of move-in is already a highly emotional experience—sending a child off to college for the first time can be overwhelming. The added shock of thinking their sons or daughters might be caught in a shooting transformed what should have been a milestone of pride into a terrifying memory.
Villanova University, a private Catholic institution just outside Philadelphia, is known both for its academic reputation and its high costs. With tuition hovering around $70,000 per year, the school draws families from across the nation. The incoming class of 2029 alone is made up of approximately 1,770 students, according to the university’s admissions profile.
The school also boasts a notable list of alumni, including former First Lady Jill Biden and even Pope Leo XIV, who graduated in 1977 with a degree in mathematics.
This week was supposed to mark the beginning of their new chapter, with orientation events planned throughout the week. The law school’s own orientation wrapped up earlier Thursday with a picnic sponsored by the alumni association. Instead, those events were overshadowed by fear and confusion.
Despite the disruption, Villanova officials said the semester would proceed as scheduled, with classes beginning Monday. Extra counseling and support services are being offered for students and families who may be struggling after the incident.
While the false report ended without injury, it served as another reminder of the climate of fear surrounding campuses across America.
Even the suggestion of an active shooter is enough to ignite chaos, highlighting how deeply these threats resonate in a nation where real mass shootings have become all too common.