Wave of Hoax Active Shooter Calls Disrupts College Campuses Nationwide

A troubling surge of hoax active-shooter calls—known as “swatting”—has rippled across the country, forcing lockdowns and sending waves of panic through college campuses. As the fall semester begins, universities are confronting fear, disruption, and strained emergency systems.

Reports indicate that at least a dozen institutions have been targeted. These incidents typically follow the same pattern: emergency calls claim an armed individual is threatening campus, often accompanied by the sound of gunfire. Rapid law enforcement responses lead to lockdowns, evacuations, and full-scale searches. Later, the threat is revealed to be false.

Campuses Hit So Far This Year Include:

• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville)

• Northern Arizona University

• Iowa State University

• Kansas State University

• University of Colorado–Boulder

• University of New Hampshire

• University of Kentucky (call resolved before a lockdown)

• Central Georgia Technical College

• Villanova University (hit twice within days)

• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

• University of South Carolina

  
  

Law enforcement and campus security systems are treating every report as legitimate, deploying tactical teams and activating emergency protocols like “Run, Hide, Fight.” Even after threats are debunked, the emotional and logistical fallout remains substantial.

These incidents are more than mere pranks. False alarms strain police resources, traumatize students, and risk desensitizing communities to real threats. Experts warn that repeated false calls could erode trust in emergency alerts, making students and faculty less likely to react immediately if violence is actually underway.

Tracking down perpetrators is challenging, thanks to technology that masks phone origins. Authorities—including state and federal agencies—are investigating, but motives, coordination, and sources remain largely unclear.

In the meantime, universities are re-evaluating emergency readiness and communication systems to handle both genuine crises and malicious false alarms. The psychological impact on students, staff, and families lingers long after each incident ends.