MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A false report of ‘shots fired’ on the WVU downtown campus in Morgantown is under investigation.
At around 7:40 a.m., the campus alert system warned students, faculty, and residents about shots fire near the Wise Library along University Avenue.
The all-clear was given at 8:06 a.m.
WVU Executive Director of Strategic Communications Shauna Johnson released the following statement:
“WVU Police responded to a false report of shots fired at the Downtown Library on the West Virginia University Morgantown Campus. Investigators have determined this was a hoax. There was and is no threat to campus. Officers are investigating. Those with information are asked to call 304-293-3136.”
There have been a number of ‘shots fired’ hoaxes, also known as swatting, on college campuses around the country in recent weeks. WVU has not confirmed what happened Tuesday was swatting.
In a recording of the call made to Monongalia County MECCA 911 obtained by MetroNews, the caller said “We’re at the West Virginia University at the Wise Library, we’re barricaded in…there’s a man running around with a rifle outside.”
The call, which goes for about three minutes, describes the man being dressed in a white t-shirt and carrying an AR-15. The call also has what are apparently computer generated gunshots.
“He just shot again,” the caller told the dispatcher.
“I heard it,” the dispatcher said “Just stay in that room okay?”
FBI Pittsburgh Assistant Special Agent in Charge Amie Loos said similar calls have been made in college towns around the U.S. this past week.
“Understanding this is very terrifying for parents and students and no one wants to receive this type of message when we send these kids off to school,” Loos said on MetroNews “Midday.” “I want everyone to know we investigate every one of these and we take every one very seriously.”
Loos said each investigation of a swatting call takes time and resources.
“When we can pin them together it makes it quicker to identify it as a hoax but each one takes time and taxpayers’ dollars for both the local police department and the FBI to investigate,” Loos said.