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Villanova University president says progressive shooter incidental was a "cruel hoax"
A study of an progressive shooter astatine Villanova University successful Pennsylvania connected Thursday turned retired to beryllium a "cruel hoax," according to the schoolhouse president and the Delaware County territory attorney.
Villanova University sent retired a study of an progressive shooter successful the Charles Widger School of Law astir 4:30 p.m., advising radical to determination to a unafraid determination and to fastener and barricade doors.
In a missive to the community, Villanova University President Rev. Peter Donohue said that determination were reports of a imaginable shooter astatine the instrumentality schoolhouse during the school's predisposition Mass successful the mediate of campus.
Police from crossed Delaware County, Pennsylvania State Police and national instrumentality enforcement responded to a imaginable progressive shooter concern astatine the university.
At 5:47 p.m., Radnor constabulary said determination were nary reported victims.
"There was a telephone that came successful astir 4:30 p.m. to instrumentality enforcement, a 911 center, saying determination was an progressive shooter successful the building, successful the instrumentality schoolhouse building, and that determination was a victim, astatine slightest 1 unfortunate who was wounded," Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. "That has turned retired not to beryllium true. ... There was ne'er an progressive shooting connected the campus."
Stollsteimer said instrumentality enforcement remained connected country Thursday nighttime investigating.
The shelter-in-place bid connected field was lifted astatine 6:32 p.m., Delaware County officials said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said successful a station connected X that he's directed Pennsylvania State Police to "use each instrumentality astatine our disposal to find the idiosyncratic oregon radical who called successful this fake menace and clasp them accountable."
"I cognize contiguous was each parent's nightmare, and each student's biggest fear," Shapiro wrote. "I'm profoundly grateful nary 1 was hurt, and thankful to each members of instrumentality enforcement who ran towards reports of information to support Pennsylvanians safe."
Thursday was "opening day" astatine Villanova, which included a household assets just and info sessions, orientation, opening Mass and a household picnic, according to a schedule posted connected the university's website.
"Amid my thanks, I would similar to apologize to our first-year students and their families," Donohue said successful the missive to the community. "This is not the instauration to Villanova that I had hoped for you. And portion I cannot bash thing to relieve the unrest that you are feeling close now, I tin connection a prayer."
Multiple 911 calls astir shooter astatine Villanova University
In a statement, Delaware County communications manager Michael Connolly described the archetypal calls to 911: "Delaware County's Department of Emergency Services received a telephone astatine 4:33 PM of shots fired from a antheral equipped with an AR-15-style limb connected the field of Villanova University, reports which aboriginal turned retired to beryllium erroneous. Multiple calls were received successful which gunshot-like sounds were heard successful the background, which are nether probe astatine this time."
Law enforcement agencies were dispatched from "nearly each municipality successful the region," Connolly said, and 18 EMS units responded successful lawsuit anyone was injured.
At 5:06 p.m., different telephone came successful reporting a gunshot wound, and that was besides unfounded, the connection says.
The probe is ongoing into the incident, which Connolly said whitethorn beryllium a "swatting" attempt. Swatting is simply a transgression "with terrible transgression consequences" nether national and authorities law, helium said successful the statement.
Connolly besides praised archetypal responders for their swift effect to the calls.
"Shame connected you": Family astatine Villanova relieved that reported progressive shooter was a hoax
The Miller household was some frightened and relieved by the events that happened astatine Villanova University.
Allison Miller was connected field for her predisposition time arsenic an incoming freshman. The household was successful Mass astatine the time.
"We were sitting astatine Mass, and I got a notification connected my Apple Watch, and it said it was an progressive shooter alert," said Allison Miller. "And past 15 seconds aft that, everyone stood up, started rushing, implicit hysteria, which is understandable."
Elizabeth Miller, Allison's mom, was impressed by the university's response.
"We were close by the altar, similar close up beforehand and the closest gathering is wherever they were ushering america in. It was similar a stampede," Elizabeth Miller said. "They were pushing me, we astir fell connected the ground."
"The radical that organized the Mass were ushering america into the building, they gave america food, they locked america down," she added. "They took attraction of us, they kept coming and giving america updates … I felt precise harmless with them."
Corey Miller, Allison's dad, besides talked astir however surreal it was.
"There were radical falling down successful the mud, crawling, falling implicit chairs," helium said. "Just trying to support bid and determination toward what turned retired to beryllium a secured building. It was the existent chapel that the Mass was taking spot at."
The dada besides has immoderate words to accidental to whoever is liable for the hoax.
"Shame connected you. This isn't thing you would expect successful this country. I'm gladsome it turned retired to beryllium a hoax," helium said. "It's a bittersweet mode to extremity a fantastic day. I'm relieved for everyone present connected field that hopefully everyone tin spell backmost to normal."
The incoming freshman was inactive successful implicit shock.
"I conscionable couldn't judge that idiosyncratic would bash that. It's really insane," Allison Miller said. "I heard different radical astatine antithetic colleges were experiencing the aforesaid thing."
Villanova, University of Tennessee astatine Chattanooga each had mendacious shooting threats
Before Villanova issued an alert for a imaginable progressive shooter connected campus, the University of Tennessee astatine Chattanooga issued an alert for a imaginable progressive shooter conscionable aft 1 p.m.
Hours later, UTC said the reported progressive shooter was "was determined to beryllium a mendacious threat."
The station said determination was nary grounds of a shooting and nary injuries were reported.
All classes and activities volition resume astatine UTC connected Friday.
Kerri Corrado, Josh Sanders, Joshua Sidorowicz, Raymond Strickland, Ben Payne and Joe Holden contributed to this report.
Tom Dougherty is simply a integer contented shaper for CBS Philadelphia. Before joining CBS Philadelphia, Tom covered sports for NBC Sports Philadelphia. He presently covers breaking quality and sports.
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