A swatting group calling itself Purgatory is believed to be behind more than 10 hoax active shooter reports that triggered lockdowns and armed police responses on campuses nationwide between Aug. 21 and Aug. 25, investigators and watchdog groups say.
Villanova At The Center
The spree began on Aug. 21 at Villanova University, where families and new students were gathered for orientation Mass. An alert warned of an “ACTIVE SHOOTER” on campus, sending parents and students scrambling to hide in classrooms and barricade doors as heavily armed officers swarmed the Main Line campus. Police later confirmed the call was a hoax.
Just three days later, on Aug. 24, another false report involving a weapon at Villanova’s Austin Hall prompted a second police search, one day before classes began.
Other Universities Targeted
Similar false alerts hit other campuses across the country. On Aug. 24, the University of South Carolina issued a shelter-in-place order at Thomas Cooper Library after a report of an armed individual. An all-clear was later given with no shooter found, as Daily Voice previously reported.
The following day, Aug. 25, the University of Arkansas ordered students to “Avoid. Deny. Defend.” after a caller claimed there was an active shooter at Mullins Library. Police cleared the scene without finding any threat, as Daily Voice reported…