JUST IN: Active Shooter Reported At Villanova University

UPDATE: At 6:10 p.m. local time, Villanova University released a statement confirming that the active shooter threat reported in the campus law school was a “hoax.”

“Today, as we are celebrating Orientation Mass to welcome our newest Villanovans and their families to our community, panic and terror ensued with the news of a possible shooter at the Law School. Mercifully, no one was injured, and we now know that it was a cruel hoax—there was no active shooter, no injuries and no evidence of firearms present on campus,” university president Peter M. Donohue  announced in a press release. “While that is a blessing and relief, I know today’s events have shaken our entire community.”

“I would like to thank everyone involved in securing the safety of our community, especially our Villanova Public Safety department and the first responders from Radnor Police and other local police departments. I would also like to thank our Orientation Counselors and all of the Villanova staff in attendance at the Orientation Mass, who responded calmly and compassionately to a very frightening and unnerving situation.”

The Villanova University campus is on lockdown after reports of an active shooter surfaced while freshman students were attending the university’s first year student mass.

At about 4:30 p.m. local time, students received an alert that read: “ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors. More info to follow. The Radnor Police Department confirmed that an active shooting was underway in a social media post.

“Radnor Township Police Department are on location at Villanova University for a repot of an active shooter. All nearby residents and students are asked to SHELTER IN PLACE AT this time.,” the department posted on X. “All further information will come from the Office of the Superintendent of Police.”

Overhead footage obtained by NBC 10 Philadelphia shows a massive police presence outside the John F. Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law.

Additional footage obtained from the scene shows a Villanova faculty member confirming that the incident was reported near the law school. “Building is locked down, okay? No one is coming in unless we let them in, okay? So you are safe. I know this is unnerving. Just hang tight. We will let you know as soon as we know more information.”

As of 5:30 p.m. local time, a police source told NBC News that no injuries had been confirmed as of this report. A large contingent of police officers were seen entering the building not long after.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsheimer confirmed that police believe an active shooter is at-large inside Scarpa Hall. He further confirmed that police are going “door-to-door” to locate the shooter and did not provide any information on potential injuries or victims.

As of 6 p.m. local time, the Radnor Police Department reported that no injuries had yet been reported. Students are still being advised to shelter in place and await further updates.

This is a developing story.