Such false emergency calls are known as "swatting," or calling in a large law enforcement response to a non-existent crisis. On the same day, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was also targeted with reports of an active shooter. Police found no threat.

A “cruel hoax” sent students sheltering into place on the first day of orientation after a false report of an active shooter, prompting a massive response by local and federal law enforcement as they worked to secure the campus.

Evacuations for an active shooter "hoax" during the Rider University vs. Villanova University soccer game was streamed live on Thursday. The game, which was nearly 40 minutes in, was interrupted as people and players could be seen running off the pitch and out of the stands.