UPDATE AUGUST 26, 2025: Universities across the nation are experiencing a rash of active shooter hoaxes. In addition to swatting incidents that happened at the University of South Carolina and Villanova University last week and Sunday, the University of Arkansas, University of Colorado Boulder, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of New Hampshire and Northern Arizona University all received hoax active shooter calls, reports NBC News.
Classes were cancelled at the University of Arkansas on Monday after the school said it couldn’t confirm if the call was real or not.
The FBI is assisting the schools with their investigations.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a concerning development, the University of South Carolina (USC) experienced a swatting incident on Sunday, which falsely reported an active shooter at the Thomas Cooper Library.
Related Article: 2 Hoax Active Shooter Incidents Shake Villanova University
This event, confirmed as a hoax by a university spokesperson, underscores a dangerous trend that appears to be affecting college campuses nationwide.
Key Details of the USC Swatting Incident
On Sunday, USC’s campus police dispatch received two calls reporting an active shooter at the library at 6:30:42 and 6:32:20 p.m., reports CNN. Both calls, made by an unknown male, included background noises resembling gunfire.
In response, USC officials ordered a campus-wide shelter-in-place while law enforcement investigated the situation, reports WYFF. Authorities later confirmed there was no evidence of a shooter, and no shots were fired.
The swatting incident at USC may not be isolated. It follows similar hoax reports at Villanova University, where swatting calls were made on Thursday and again on Sunday, just hours before the USC incident. Some of these calls made to Villanova also featured sounds mimicking gunfire.
Context and Implications for Other Campuses
The phenomenon of swatting — making false emergency calls to provoke a large law enforcement response — poses significant risks. It diverts essential resources from potential real emergencies and places communities in unnecessary danger.
Related Article: School Swatting: Why It’s So Dangerous and How to Combat It
According to experts, swatting incidents are increasing in frequency and sophistication, with perpetrators often difficult to trace.
In addition to USC and Villanova University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also experienced a lockdown on Thursday due to a similar false active shooter report. The University of Tennessee incident is currently under investigation as a swatting case.
