A wave of “swatting” incidents has hit college campuses across the country since conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated Wednesday. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said her department is monitoring the incidents and is in direct contact with campus leadership.
“These threats are not just disruptive — they are dangerous,” McMahon said in a statement. “Each one forces students, faculty, and law enforcement into emergency response mode, diverting critical resources and putting lives at risk, all for a malicious hoax.”
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What is swatting?
Swatting involves making a false emergency call to elicit a significant police response. Incidents can range from an unspecified, general emergency to situations that are more sinister, such as a bomb threat or a fake mass shooting.
Fake calls about a mass shooting and fake hostage situations are particularly dangerous because police arrive with the posture and equipment needed to take down a shooter at a place where bystanders are calm and unsuspecting, which can incite panic.
“These acts must not go unanswered,” McMahon said. “We are working with federal and state partners to ensure those responsible are swiftly identified and held fully accountable.”
Campuses that went into lockdown or experienced some form of a threat include at least five historically Black colleges and universities, including Virginia State University, Alabama State University and Southern University. Another incident occurred at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Naval Academy incident
The U.S. Naval Academy, which is as secure as a military base, went into lockdown Thursday night after a former midshipman who was expelled made threats on social media and used an IP address that made it appear he was on campus.
A midshipman hit a responding police officer with a training weapon after mistaking the officer as a threat. The officer shot the midshipman, who was airlifted to a hospital. He is now in stable condition.
