Shooting scare at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, police confirm no active threat

A massive scare erupted Friday at Villanova University, located just outside Philadelphia in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, after reports of an active shooter triggered a large-scale emergency response.

Police said the incident was treated as an active shooter situation while campus buildings were cleared. Students, staff, and nearby residents were ordered to shelter in place as dozens of law enforcement officers, including the Radnor Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, FBI, and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, converged on the university grounds.

Hours later, officials confirmed there was no evidence of a shooter or victims.

“We are thankful to confirm that there is no evidence of an active shooter incident or victims,” police said in a statement.

Villanova officials praised students and faculty for calmly following lockdown procedures, noting that community safety remains the university’s top priority. The source of the false alarm is now under investigation.