An active shooter situation that unfolded at Villanova University, a Catholic university located just outside of Philadelphia, is a hoax, a district attorney said. Reports flooded in earlier Thursday on social media about the situation, with videos appearing to show people running on campus.
“This is not an active shooter,” Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a Thursday evening press conference. His comments closed out a flurry of news reports and posts on X that someone had started shooting on campus with an automatic rifle, triggering Villanova’s alert system.
“If this was indeed a cruel hoax, we will track you down if it’s the last thing we do,” Stollsteimer said.
Students shared screenshots of a letter Villanova President Rev. Peter Donohue, who categorized the shooting as a “cruel hoax.” He added firearms weren’t recovered on campus nor was there a shooter. The call interrupted the university’s orientation mass that welcomes first-year Villanova students.
The district attorney said whomever called the hoax ruined “what should be a joyous occasion.”
“I would like to apologize to our first-year students and their families,” Donohue wrote. “This is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you.”
Local police responded to shooting reports
Early Thursday evening Radnor Township Police confirmed on X that they are on Villanova’s campus for reports of an active shooter and ordered a shelter in place. Police later added on X that there are no reported victims, contradicting reports from The Philadelphia Inquirer a person was injured. The department urged everyone sheltering on campus to not leave until law enforcement escorts them.
“Radnor Township Police Department and assisting units are continuing to clear buildings at Villanova University,” the department wrote. “The incident remains ACTIVE. At this time, there are NO reported victims.”
It’s not immediately clear who the possible shooting suspect is.
Villanova sent an alert out Thursday evening that read, “ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to a secure location. Lock/barricade doors. More to follow.” The alert instructed people to avoid Scarpa Hall, which houses the university’s law program.
Gov. Josh Shaprio, AG aware of shooting
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, wrote on X he’s aware of the shooting and that Pennsylvania State Police are on the scene with local and federal law enforcement.
The state’s attorney general, Dave Sunday, added he’s monitoring developments at the private Catholic university.
Students moved in Wednesday
The Associated Press reported few professors are on campus, but students moved in on Wednesday and several student events started Thursday.
Class doesn’t start at the university until Monday.
Theology professor Brandon Ambrosino told the AP that he and his colleagues have been struggling to find information about the shooting and was concerned for students’ safety.
“Yeah, terrifying. Obviously, it’s our nightmare scenario. I feel terrible for these kids,” he told the publication.
