TAMPA, Fla. — A wave of panic spread across the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus on Friday afternoon after a call reported a gunman on school grounds. Within minutes, students received emergency alerts urging them to take precautions, while police and campus security swept the area.
After an extensive investigation, authorities confirmed that no active shooter was found, and there was no threat to campus safety. Officials now believe the incident was a result of a “swatting” call — a dangerous hoax that has increasingly targeted schools and universities across the country.
Around midday, USF’s emergency notification system, AlertUSF, issued a warning about a potential armed individual on campus. Students and faculty quickly locked down classrooms and offices as heavily armed officers moved into position to search the reported area.
Some students shared on social media that they hid under desks or barricaded classroom doors, fearing the worst. Parents, alerted by text messages and online chatter, anxiously reached out to their children.
“I was in class when everyone’s phone buzzed at the same time,” one USF student told local reporters. “We didn’t know what was happening, so we just stayed quiet until we heard from police.”
Tampa Police Department and USF Police coordinated a rapid response, combing through buildings and nearby areas. Within hours, law enforcement officials confirmed that there was no evidence of a shooter or weapon on campus.
In a follow-up alert, USF reassured the community:
“There was a report of an individual on the Tampa campus with a firearm. Police have investigated, and there is no threat to campus.”
Authorities are now investigating the origin of the call, which they suspect may have been a swatting attempt.
Swatting is a criminal act in which someone makes a false emergency call to trigger a large law enforcement response. These hoaxes are not only disruptive but also extremely dangerous, as they put students, faculty, and officers at unnecessary risk.
Incidents like the one at USF highlight the growing concern about swatting targeting schools, universities, and even private residences nationwide.
Though shaken, students and faculty expressed relief that the situation turned out to be a false alarm.
“I called my mom right away when we got the all-clear,” another student said. “I’m just thankful it wasn’t real, but it’s scary that someone would even make a call like that.”
USF officials emphasized that the university takes every report seriously and will continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure safety.
For now, classes and campus activities have resumed, but the incident serves as a sobering reminder of how vulnerable communities feel in today’s climate of frequent shooting threats.
University leaders said counseling services are available for anyone struggling with anxiety following the event. Meanwhile, police urge anyone with information about the false report to come forward.
Leave a Reply