Grove City College initiated a campus-wide lockdown for approximately three hours on Sunday afternoon following a false report of an armed individual. Law enforcement officials have since determined the incident was a “swatting” hoax, and no threat was found. The campus has returned to normal operations, and no injuries were reported.
The event is believed to be part of a coordinated series of false alarms targeting several universities across Pennsylvania on the same day. An investigation into the origin of the call is currently underway, led by state police.
Key Takeaways
- A false report of a gunman at Grove City College's library triggered a three-hour campus lockdown on Sunday.
- The incident has been classified as a “swatting” hoax, a dangerous prank designed to elicit a large law enforcement response.
- No injuries occurred, and a thorough search confirmed there was no actual threat to students or staff.
- Similar false reports were made against at least three other Pennsylvania universities on the same day.
Emergency Response Triggered by False Call
On Sunday at approximately 1:55 p.m., Grove City police received a call from an unknown person reporting a man with a gun at the Henry Buhl Library on the Grove City College campus. According to Sgt. Christopher Taggart of the Grove City Police Department, the report prompted an immediate and significant law enforcement response.
Campus security and local police arrived on the scene moments later. Following established safety protocols, authorities evacuated the library and issued a campus-wide alert instructing students and staff to shelter in place. The initial alert was sent around 4:00 p.m., warning of a “potentially dangerous situation.”
Multi-Agency Collaboration Secures Campus
The response involved a coordinated effort from multiple law enforcement agencies. Grove City police were assisted by Grove City College Campus Safety, Pennsylvania State Police, the Mercer County Critical Incident Response Team, and police departments from Mercer Borough and Slippery Rock Borough. Westminster College Campus Safety also provided support.
This multi-agency team conducted a systematic and thorough search of the library, adjacent buildings, and the entire campus. Nicholas Hildebrand, the director of college communications, confirmed the rapid response was essential.
“Student safety is really most important here, and that’s why we went into that mode,” Hildebrand stated, emphasizing the college's priority during the incident.
What is 'Swatting'?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines swatting as making a false emergency call to law enforcement to deceive them into sending a large number of officers to a specific address. These hoaxes often involve reports of severe, ongoing crises like active shooters or hostage situations, wasting valuable resources and creating dangerous situations for both responders and the public.
Investigation Points to Coordinated Hoax
After a comprehensive search of the campus yielded no evidence of a threat, investigators began to suspect the call was a hoax. Authorities found no gunman, no victims, and no witnesses to corroborate the initial report. The lockdown was officially lifted around 5:30 p.m., and an all-clear notification was sent to students shortly after 6:00 p.m.
Hildebrand noted that police informed the college of a disturbing trend. “From what we understand, there have been swatting incidents today,” he said, referencing information from law enforcement. This was later confirmed by news reports indicating that Millersville, Shippensburg, and West Chester universities, all located in eastern Pennsylvania, received similar false active-shooter reports on the same day.
Timeline of Events
- 1:55 p.m. - Grove City police receive a report of a man with a gun at the campus library.
- Approx. 2:00 p.m. - Police and campus security arrive, evacuate the library, and begin a search.
- Approx. 4:00 p.m. - A shelter-in-place alert is sent to all students and staff.
- 5:04 p.m. - A follow-up alert confirms a large police presence and that the situation is contained to campus.
- Approx. 5:30 p.m. - The precautionary lockdown is lifted after the search finds no threat.
- 6:02 p.m. - A final alert confirms the incident was a hoax and normal campus operations can resume.
State Police Lead Investigation into Call's Origin
The Pennsylvania State Police have taken the lead in the ongoing investigation. A press release from the Mercer barracks supported the college's assessment, stating that “no evidence of an active shooter, or victims or witnesses claiming an active shooter was ever present at the library was found.”
The statement added, “This is believed to be a computer-generated swatting call.” Sgt. Taggart confirmed that state police are working with Grove City police to trace the call and identify the person or group responsible for the hoax.
College officials have reviewed security video footage as part of the investigation but found nothing to confirm the initial report. In a final communication to the campus community, officials reiterated their commitment to safety and thanked law enforcement for their swift and professional handling of the situation.
“Grove City College remains committed to the safety of all students, faculty, and staff in our community,” the college stated in its final alert. Normal campus activities resumed Sunday evening without further incident.
