Villanova University says active shooter alert was 'cruel hoax'

Villanova University President Peter Donohue on Thursday night notified his campus' community that the active shooter alert was triggered by a "cruel hoax" and that there is no active threat to the campus. 

The campus sent out an active shooter alert to students and employees earlier Thursday, which encouraged students and employees to take shelter. A large police presence was also noted at the school over the alert.

The incident occurred while students and their families gathered at the school for "opening day," according to the campus website. Events included a family resource fair, information sessions, orientation, opening Mass and a family picnic.

"Today, as we are 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 letter obtained by NBC Philadelphia.

"Mercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax—there was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus," he continued. "While that is a blessing and relief, I know today’s events have shaken our entire community ... I would like to apologize to our first-year students and their families. This is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you."

Donohue acknowledged that he could not do anything to relieve the stress that the event placed on new students, but sent out a prayer for the community.

Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed that the alert was a hoax and said he has directed state police to investigate the incident. 

No suspect in the swatting has been identified so far. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.