villanova

Aug. 24 (UPI) — Police descended upon Pennsylvania’s Villanova University on Sunday in response to reports of an active shooter on campus, making it the second time in less than a week that a hoax attack has been reported at the private Catholic school.

The Radnor Township Police Department said officers were responding to reports of an active shooter at the university’s Austin Hall.

“Law enforcement has confirmed that call to be false,” it said in a statement published on X at about 11:40 a.m. EDT.

“Officers are working to clear the campus and restore normal operations. At this time, the investigation is ongoing.”

Monday is the start of classes for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year at Villanova University, where about 10,000 students, including 6,700 full-time undergraduate students, attend. Villanova is a Philadelphia suburb.

Kathleen Byrnes, vice president of student life at the school, has announced in a letter that Sunday evening’s Mass and Commissioning has been canceled “given the whirlwind of emotions over these last few days.”

“With all that has transpired on campus in recent days, we feel our first-year students are best served by an evening with time to pause before classes start tomorrow,” Byrnes said.

“For our new students: Please take this evening to relax, talk with new friends and get a good night’s sleep — all of which will help you feel prepared for your first day of college tomorrow.”

The first false call of an active shooter on campus occurred Thursday late afternoon. Students were warned at about 4:30 p.m. to shelter in place. The shooter was reported to have been at the university’s law school.

University President Peter Donohue announced the Thursday active shooter report was a “cruel hoax.”

In a letter to students Sunday following the second false report, Donohue said he wished he had more answers for them.

“I do not know why this is happening, but I assure you the authorities are working tirelessly to find out who is behind these calls,” he said.

“I know it may not seem like it after the past couple of days, but I assure you that campus is safe, and there is no evidence of a legitimate threat to our community.”

Aug. 21 (UPI) — Students at Villanova University near Philadelphia received an active shooter alert and were warned to stay in secure locations late Thursday afternoon, but it was a hoax.

University officials issued an active shooter alert to students and warned them to shelter in place at 4:30 p.m. EDT, after being alerted to an alleged shooter at the university’s law school.

Many police responded to the scene, but no injuries were reported before University President Peter Donohue announced it was a “cruel hoax” at about 6:15 p.m., WCAU reported.

“Panic and terror ensued as news of a possible shooter at the Law School,” Donohue said in a letter to students and family.

“Mercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax,” Donohue continued. “There was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus.”

Donohue said the hoax has “shaken our entire community” and thanked the Villanova Public Safety department, the Radnor Police and other local police departments for rapidly responding to the report of an active shooter.

The university lifted its shelter-in-place order after police reported the matter was a hoax.

Police had barricaded Scarpa Hall, which houses the university’s law school, after being notified of an active shooter situation.

The university was placed under lockdown as police investigated the matter, but no information has been provided regarding what triggered the active shooter alert.

The nearby Lower Merion School District moved all students and staff indoors after being notified of the active shooter situation.

Thursday was Villanova’s opening day for fall classes, and many students were undergoing orientation when the active shooter alert was issued.