FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KATV) — Law enforcement officials determined that reports of an active shooter at the University of Arkansas on Monday were a hoax. Despite receiving 308 landline calls and more than 30 emergency 911 calls about an active shooter at seven different buildings on campus, no threat was found.
Some callers claimed to have seen a suspect or heard gunshots, but University of Arkansas Police Department Assistant Chief Matt Mills said, “It’s looking as if this was another swatting or hoax call.”
The false reports came amid a wave of similar incidents at universities nationwide in recent days. Although classes were canceled for the day, housing, most dining, and transit services remained operational. Several individuals were detained during the investigation, but all were released.
The university’s RazALERT emergency notification system sent a text message to students just before 12:30 p.m., warning of an active shooter at Mullins Library, located near the Student Union. The alert advised students to “Avoid. Deny. Defend.”
A subsequent RazALERT at 1:29 p.m. informed students that police were responding to multiple reports across campus and reiterated the call to “Continue to Avoid. Deny. Defend.”
In response to the situation, Fayetteville Public Schools emailed parents to inform them that all district schools were on secure status, with no entry or exit allowed.
