OU: Fake active shooter calls originated from outside US
After an alert was sent out Friday by the University of Oklahoma warning of an active shooter on campus, the university said these were swatting calls that originated from outside the United States.
After an alert was sent out Friday by the University of Oklahoma warning of an active shooter on campus, the university said these were swatting calls that originated from outside the United States.
After an alert was sent out Friday by the University of Oklahoma warning of an active shooter on campus, the university said these were swatting calls that originated from outside the United States.
After an alert was sent out Friday by the University of Oklahoma warning of an active shooter on campus, the university said these were swatting calls that originated from outside the United States.
OU President Joseph Harroz, Jr. released a statement Sunday saying that, at approximately 9:24 p.m. Friday, several calls were made to 911 reporting an active shooter on campus near the South Oval and the Bizzell Memorial Library. Officers immediately responded and found no evidence of a shooting or criminal activity.
"With assistance from the FBI, we have since confirmed that this was a 'swatting' incident, where callers fake an emergency that draws a large response from law enforcement. Although the investigation will continue for some time, it is believed that the calls targeting our campus originated from outside of the United States," said Harroz in the statement.
Harroz applauded the work of the more than 100 officers from different law enforcement agencies who responded to the incident and took action.
"Within less than one minute of the initial call to 911, the first emergency RAVE alert was sent to all Norman students, faculty, and staff, and OUPD arrived on the scene in under two minutes. In addition, there were many other staff and administrators who did their part Friday night to keep our community safe and informed," said the statement.
Harroz said campus counseling services are available for any student seeking help or experiencing difficulty after the incident.
"As relieved as we are that the incident turned out to be false, we recognize that the feelings of fear and anxiety that many of us experienced on Friday were very real," said Harroz.
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