Police had surged onto the university’s campus northwest of Philadelphia, as frightened students sheltered in place. But the school said there was no evidence of a gunman.

False reports of active shooters have led to panic and temporary lockdowns at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The active shooter alert that forced Villanova University students to shelter in place on Thursday was a result of a cruel hoax," according to President Rev. Peter Donohue.