The active shooting reported at Villanova University on Thursday afternoon that sparked pandemonium during new student move-in was a \u201ccruel hoax,\u201d the school\u2019s president said in a statement to the campus community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Students and visitors, including many families helping their children get settled,\u00a0had been\u00a0directed to shelter in place following what turned out to be a\u00a0false alarm, according to the Radnor Township Police Department.<\/p>\n
An alert from the university ordered everyone to stay away from the Law School Scarpa Hall, located on the West Campus near nine residence halls and a dining hall, according to a\u00a0campus map<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToday, 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,\u201d\u00a0University President Rev. Peter Donohue\u00a0wrote<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n People embrace after an initial report of an active shooter on Villanova\u2019s campus caused panic. AP<\/p>\n \u201cMercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax\u2013there was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus. While that is a blessing and relief, I know today\u2019s events have shaken our entire community,\u201d Donohue continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n The false report was sparked by a 911 call claiming that there was an active shooter and one deceased victim, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said.<\/p>\n Shortly after sending out the all-clear email to campus, Donohue spoke to the community outside a campus building.<\/p>\n The false report was one of many called in across the country, including to the King of Prussia mall just five minutes away from campus, Donohue said.<\/p>\n Alarming videos\u00a0posted to X<\/a>\u00a0showed frantic students and families running for their lives and toppling over chairs during an outdoor mass that was being held to welcome the new students.<\/p>\n Thursday was the first day of new student orientation, according to the university calendar.<\/p>\n The law school\u2019s orientation started Tuesday and concluded with a picnic held with the alumni association Thursday afternoon, according to posts on\u00a0X<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Toppled chairs are scattered across a lawn after people fled. AP<\/p>\n Droves of law enforcement officials were seen on campus responding to the active shooter threat, which turned out to be a \u201ccruel hoax.\u201d AP<\/p>\n A door with damaged glass on the Villanova campus is seen immediately after reports of an active shooter.<\/p>\n Federal, state and local law enforcement\u00a0were both on site to assist, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on\u00a0X<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick said that he\u00a0was\u00a0\u201caware and monitoring the situation\u201d and \u201cpraying\u201d for everyone on campus.<\/p>\n Villanova University, a private Augustinian Catholic school just 12 miles outside of Philadelphia, costs a staggering $70,000 annually for each student.\u00a0<\/p>\n People shelter behind a wall at the Villanova University campus where an active shooter was reported. AP<\/p>\n People were instructed to shelter in place while police investigated the possible threat, which turned out to be phony. AP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n