Active shooter reported at Villanova

VILLANOVA – An active shooter has been reported at Villanova University, according to an alert sent to students and faculty. 

What we know:

Radnor Township Police are on the scene. The university says to avoid Law School Scarpa Hall and move to a secure location and barricade doors.

An X post from Liam Zieg, who states they are on Villanova’s campus hiding and locked in a utility closet, posted video of an apparent university rep informing the people in the closet of a “report of an active shooter on campus….supposedly in the library at the law school on the other side of campus.”

Video posted to social media shows frantic students running. 

New student orientation and registration started on Thursday and is scheduled to run through Saturday. Villanova’s academic year is set to start in just five days. 

A source tells FOX 29 that he was moving his son into school today and was attending an outdoor mass when suddenly the priest stopped speaking and left the altar. Word started whispering through the crowd that there was a shooter and everyone began to scatter.

What they’re saying:

State Rep. Lisa Borowski, whose district includes Villanova, said in a statement that at about 5 p.m. she received a text from Radnor Township Police and campus police for local residents to shelter in place. 

“I am very worried and very concerned,” she said.

Villanova University is a private Catholic university located in the Philadelphia suburbs. The school received extra attention this year for being the alma mater of new Pope Leo XIV.  

What we don’t know:

It’s unclear at this time if there are any injuries. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

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