Villanova University: false active shooter alarm at Universidad Católica was cruel deception

The Villanova University confirmed on Thursday, August 21 that the reports on an active shooter on the campus, which interrupted an inauguration mass for new students and their families, were a “cruel deception.”

The Local Police He began investigating reports of an active shooter on the campus late on Thursday afternoon. The Augustinian Catholic institution in Philadelphia (United States) is alma mater of Pope Leo XIV.

The students received an alert about an active shooting incident at 4:35 pm (east time) during the opening mass at Rowen Campus Green, a welcome mass that was going to be followed by a family picnic.

Families and students were hurriedly taken to campus buildings, interrupting the annual guidance mass. Throughout the campus and in neighboring areas, the forces of the order instructed families, students and residents to protect themselves in their places.

Shortly after 6:00 pm, the president of the University, Fr. Peter Donohue, confirmed that “no one was injured” and that “there was no active shooter” in an email to the community of Villanova, in which he described the incident as “a cruel deception.”

The president of the University apologized to the first year students, saying: “This is not the introduction to Villanova that I expected for you.”

A first -year student in Villanova published during the confinement: “Hello, I am a first -year student in Villanova. Active shooter alert in the middle of the inauguration mass for students. Everyone is hidden. Please keep me in their thoughts. I am very scared,” shared in an X publication.

“I am not Catholic, I am nor religious at all,” said In a later publication. “Most of us attend the opening mass anyway because it is part of the orientation and it is said that it is a very beautiful and moving ceremony.”

The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, He said in an X publication that the reports were “the product of a cruel incident of ‘swatting“When someone calls with a false threat to induce panic.”

“I know that today was the nightmare of each father and the greatest fear of each student,” said Shapiro. “I am deeply grateful that no one has been injured, and grateful to all the members of the forces of the order who ran to the danger reports to keep the inhabitants of Pennsylvania safe.”

In the email, Donohue shared a sentence that, he explained, says at the end of the guidance mass every year.

“May God bless and protect them,” Donohue wrote. “May your heart and mind be united in faith so that they can love wisely, work creatively, laugh at the heart and live honestly.”

“That they use their education to bring justice and peace to the world, for the benefit of our human family and all the creation of God,” he continued. “And they always know they are loved.”

Through Your social networksthe Archbishop of Philadelphia, Mons. Nelson Perez, wrote: We all joined the prayer gratitude for the most recent news of Villanova University that no one was injured this afternoon and that the situation on the campus was resolved. ”

“We continued to pray for all those who feared for their safety today and thanking the forces of the order forces and the first aid that are ready every day to protect and serve our communities,” said the prelate.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.