BREAKING UPDATE: Villanova says active shooter was a HOAX

An active shooter warning was issued for Pennsylvania’s Villanova University on Thursday evening. Villanova President Peter M Donohue wrote to students and families on Thursday evening that the shooting was a hoax, and there was no shooter on campus.

"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. 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. While that is a blessing and relief, I know today’s events have shaken our entire community," the letter stated, per NBC 10.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in securing the safety of our community, especially our Villanova Public Safety department and the first responders from Radnor Police and other local police departments. I would also like to thank our Orientation Counselors and all of the Villanova staff in attendance at the Orientation Mass, who responded calmly and compassionately to a very frightening and unnerving situation."

Donohue expressed his apologies to the first-year students and their families who came to the campus for orientation, writing, "This is not the introduction to Villanova that I had hoped for you. And while I cannot do anything to relieve the unrest that you are feeling right now, I can offer a prayer. As generations of Villanovan know, this prayer is how I close Orientation Mass each year. Since we were interrupted today, I would like to offer it now. Whomever you are with, I ask that you reach out to them and repeat after me.

"May God bless you and protect you. May your heart and mind be united in faith so that you may be able to love wisely, work creatively, laugh heartily, and live honestly. May you use your education to bring justice and peace to the world, for the benefit of our human family and all of God’s creation. And may you always know that you are loved. Amen."

Shortly after the situation was determined to be a hoax, the shelter-in-place was lifted.

Students were ordered to shelter in place and avoid the area of Scarpa Hall. The shooting was reported during the school’s first-year student mass. Video showed a crowd running and chairs strewn about on the school’s lawn.

According to Villanova’s orientation schedule, the opening mass began at 4:15 pm and was set to go until 5:15 pm. The mass occurred on the Rowen Campus Green, while Scarpa Hall is located on the other side of the nearby SEPTA rail line. Just after 5 pm, SEPTA said that all trains would be bypassing Villanova Station. 

Heavily armed law enforcement officers were seen moving towards Scarpa Hall.

One social media user who identified herself as a freshman at the school posted to X, "hi guys i’m a freshman at villanova. active shooter alert during the middle of opening mass for students. everyone is hiding. pleaee just keep me in your thoughts. i’m very scared."

The Radnor Township Police Department said they were at the scene for a report of an active shooter, and urged all students and residents in the area to shelter in place.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote, "The PA State Police and local and federal law enforcement are onsite at Villanova University responding to reports of an active shooter. Avoid the area and follow the direction of local authorities. We will share additional information as it becomes available."

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