USC confirms swatting hoax led to active shooter alert, students describe “scary” experience

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Sunday’s threat of an active shooter on the University of South Carolina campus has now been confirmed as a swatting hoax.

While authorities say there was no gunman — students told ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams that the fear was still very real.

“Honestly, it felt like a shock, you know this happens a lot in high school, and as freshman here we kinda didn’t think it was gonna follow us to such a big campus,” says student Alex Renne.

“You’re really powerless. It definitely felt powerless to be sitting there, barricaded and you have no idea where your friends are and you have no idea what’s going on,” says student Tarun Ramkumar.

“I pushed a wardrobe in front of my door and got down in a corner of my room,” says student Vincenzo Ocone.

“One of my roommates just came from the library and she said everyone was running, and she went to Russell (House) and she said they all got shoved in freezers,” says student Elise Wheatley.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, USC officials say the active shooter alert issued on Sunday stemmed from a swatting hoax — or someone reporting a fake emergency to authorities.

USC police confirm dispatch received two separate calls at 6:30 p.m. and 6:32 p-m — reporting an active shooter at the Thomas Cooper Library.

A campus-wide “Carolina Alert” was issued just two minutes later- instructing students and faculty to shelter in place, and defend themselves as necessary.

“I think I had 11 or 12 people in my room, and after barricading ourselves in you can’t do anything but be helpless to your own mindset,” says student Jefferson Long.

“And then we see people running into the building screaming ‘There’s a shooter!’ so we all run up the stairs and bunker in the dorms,” says Renne.

Others who were off-campus, worried about their friends.

“It’s just kinda alarming that something like that would happen on the weekend, especially a Sunday,” says student Kenny McClinton.

“Including my roommate who was in T-Coop studying at the time, knowing he was studying and not knowing anything about the situation,” says student Owen Coulam.

Police say both of those calls were made by an unknown male — and even included background noise that mimicked gunfire.

Misinformation added to students’ already high anxiety.

Including footage of a USC student carrying an umbrella, mistaken as a weapon. Authorities say that student had no role in the incident.

“There were reports that there was a 2nd shooter fleeing towards our location which made us feel even more scared,” says Ramkumar.

According to CNN, similar events took place at Villanova University in Pennsyvlania, and at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the past week.

The origin of the two calls to campus police remain unknown at this time.

Regarding the alerts, university representative Jeff Stensland says these types of situations require split second decisions with limited information, and all involved parties acted swiftly to protect students, faculty, and staff.

“In the moment it’s really terrifying to hear about there being an intruder right outside your dorm room, that’s just scary, I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone,” says Ocone.

USC’s full statement can be read below:

Based on all available information, USCPD believes the active shooter alert issued last night was part of a swatting hoax. Similar events have occurred at other college campuses in recent days.

USCPD dispatch received two separate calls Sunday reporting an active shooter at the Thomas Cooper Library, at 6:30:42 and 6:32:20 p.m., respectively. Both calls were initiated by an unknown male and included background noise that mimicked gunfire. There is currently no evidence that the calls originated on campus.

Based on these calls, police were immediately dispatched to the scene and entered without hesitation in an attempt to locate the alleged shooter. Mutual aid was requested from area law enforcement agencies. A Carolina Alert message was sent to the campus community at 6:34 p.m. instructing them to shelter in place. Following protocol, buildings in the vicinity were locked and students were escorted to safety once no threat was detected. The library remained closed Sunday while police completed their search of the building, but students were allowed in to retrieve their belongings. The library reopened this morning.

Throughout this incident, our top priority was the safety of our community. Officers responded without hesitation, following their training and established protocols. The Carolina Alert went out without delay to ensure the community was immediately informed. These types of situations require split-second decisions with limited information, and our police officers, communications center staff, and emergency management unit acted swiftly to protect students, faculty, and staff.

Footage of a USC student carrying an umbrella was posted online after the initial Carolina Alert was issued. The student had no role in the incident. Unfortunately, additional false social media reports had circulated during and after the incident.

Two students received minor injuries as they exited the library and were transported to a local hospital for treatment and both have since been released.

USC is grateful to all the law enforcement agencies who assisted with Sunday’s response, including the City of Columbia Police Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the State Law Enforcement Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Columbia Fire Department, Richland County Emergency Medical Services, and other partners. Their cooperation and professionalism were vital in ensuring a rapid, thorough response. We are also grateful to the community who provided information to us, cooperated with officer directions, and took measures to ensure their own safety based on the alert. 

The investigation, in conjunction with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, is ongoing.