Villanova University’s campus was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon after the school issued an active shooter alert, prompting a massive law enforcement response and telling students and staff to shelter in place. As of late afternoon, officials reported no known victims or injuries.
The initial “NOVA Alert” was sent to students and employees at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The message read: “ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors. More info to follow,” according to CBS News Philadelphia. A subsequent alert advised people to avoid Scarpa Hall, which houses the Charles Widger School of Law, as the investigation focused on that area.
The alert was issued on what the university had scheduled as “opening day,” a time for new students and their families to attend resource fairs, orientation sessions, and a family picnic. Social media video from outside a residence hall appeared to show dozens of people running for safety from an event, with chairs overturned in the background.
The Radnor Township Police Department, Villanova University Police, and other local and state agencies, including Havertown police and Pennsylvania State Police, swarmed the campus. In a statement, the Radnor Police Department confirmed they were on location for the report and asked all nearby residents and students to shelter in place. By 5:47 p.m., police confirmed there were no reported victims.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer stated that law enforcement had locked down the campus while conducting a thorough search. “They have officers right now who are searching buildings right now,” Stollsteimer said. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this. We’re going to make this campus safe.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the situation on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Avoid the area and follow the direction of local authorities. We will share additional information as it becomes available.” Other officials, including Senator Dave McCormick and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, also posted messages expressing prayers for the safety of everyone on campus.
Villanova University, a private Catholic research university, was founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine. It is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania and is located about 12 miles west of Philadelphia, with its 260-acre campus straddling Radnor Township in Delaware County and Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County. The university is home to approximately 6,700 undergraduate and 3,100 graduate and law students. The campus is a major hub in the area and is served by three on-campus train and trolley stops operated by SEPTA, connecting it to Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.
The investigation into the source of the report is ongoing. Authorities have not released details about what prompted the active shooter alert but have continued to assure the public that the campus is being secured.
