Police respond to a report of an active shooter at Villanova University [View all]

Source: Associated Press, via WTOP

Police respond to a report of an active shooter at Villanova University

The Associated Press
August 21, 2025, 5:08 PM

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Police responded Thursday to a report of an active shooter on the campus of Villanova University, days before the start of classes. ... Students shared an alert text from the Villanova alert system that informed them of an active shooter on campus and told them to lock and barricade doors and move to secure locations. A second alert from Villanova officials warned people to stay away from the law school.

In a post on X, Radnor Township told nearby residents and students to shelter in place. No other information was given. ... Videos posted on social media showed a crowd being rushed inside a building on campus. New student orientation and registration started Thursday and is scheduled to go until Saturday. Classes begin Monday.

Villanova University is a private Catholic university in the Philadelphia suburbs. It borders Lower Merion Township and Radnor Township at the center of the city’s wealthy Main Line neighborhoods.

The Augustinian school got extra attention this year as the alma mater of new Pope Leo XIV.

Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Read more: https://wtop.com/education/2025/08/police-respond-to-a-report-of-an-active-shooter-at-villanova-university/