At the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, a tense Monday afternoon on November 3, 2025, unfolded into a collective sigh of relief after a reported active shooter threat at the Edgar Shannon Library turned out to be a false alarm. The incident, which began with urgent alerts and a campus lockdown, ended with assurances from university officials and law enforcement that no attack had occurred and that an investigation into the source of the false report was underway.
It all started just after 3 p.m., when the University of Virginia’s Department of Safety & Security sent out an emergency alert. According to WVIR, the alert warned of an “active attacker with a gun in the area of Shannon Library.” The message was clear and urgent: students and staff were told to “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT,” a protocol designed to help people survive active shooter situations by first attempting to evacuate, then hiding if escape wasn’t possible, and finally preparing to defend themselves as a last resort. The university quickly placed academic buildings under access control, effectively locking down the grounds to prevent movement and ensure safety.
Within minutes, the gravity of the situation had spread across campus. University officials, including spokesperson Bethanie Glover, confirmed to The Cavalier Daily that police were on scene at Shannon Library, investigating the report and maintaining the lockdown. “Buildings were locked down and safety alerts were issued to the community,” Glover said. “No evidence of an active shooter has been located by authorities as of this writing. Members of the community should continue to follow run, hide, fight protocol until an all-clear is issued.”
As the investigation continued, additional alerts were sent every 15 minutes—an approach that Tim Longo, associate vice president for safety and security and chief of police, explained was meant to keep everyone informed with the most up-to-date information. “In that 15 minutes we’re constantly gathering information,” Longo told The Cavalier Daily. “There’s a conference call that’s called the incident action group call that is triggered at the same time. A number of senior leaders from the University are on that call, and we’re briefed immediately by the first person to respond to the scene.”
By 3:34 p.m., the university issued another update, stating that while police were still investigating, there was “no evidence of an active attacker.” Still, the community was urged to continue following the “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT” protocol, just in case. At 3:41 p.m., the message was reiterated, and once again at 3:58 p.m., as the university made it clear that safety was the priority and that the situation was still being evaluated. The steady drumbeat of official alerts was intended to cut through the swirl of rumors and speculation that often accompany such emergencies—especially on social media.
During the lockdown, additional calls came in to the university’s 911 center. Some people reported hearing what they thought might have been gunfire. However, as Longo later explained, these sounds could have easily been doors slamming as people evacuated. “There were other calls from people hearing sounds that they thought might have been gunfire. [That] could have been doors slamming as people were evacuating from one place to the next,” Longo said. “And those calls come into our 911 center, just like this one did, and the resources on the ground respond to those calls [as well].”
The thoroughness of the police response was evident. Officers searched the entirety of Shannon Library, reviewed video footage, and spoke with eyewitnesses. Their efforts paid off: at 4:43 p.m., after an extensive investigation, the Department of Safety & Security gave the all-clear. “No evidence of an attack or threat on UVA grounds, or nearby, was found after an extensive investigation,” reported WRIC. The lockdown was lifted, and normal activities were allowed to resume. Relief swept through the campus, but questions remained about how the false report had originated.
Interim University President Paul Mahoney addressed the community in a message sent out at 5:33 p.m. He expressed gratitude to law enforcement and first responders, and acknowledged the emotional toll the ordeal had taken. “I realize today’s incident was deeply frightening and alarming. Your safety has been and will continue to be my top priority,” Mahoney said, as quoted by The Cavalier Daily. “I encourage you to check in with your friends and peers, and to take advantage of University support.” He urged students, faculty, and employees affected by the scare to seek counseling and psychological services provided by the university.
The university also made it clear that the investigation was far from over. According to WVIR, officials are determined to identify the source of the false report. “The objective is to find out who made the call, who was the source of information that tried to bring chaos to our university,” Longo stated. “This [was] an unfounded call. There’s no basis of fact to believe we had an attacker here, or that there were shots fired.” The university plans to work with state and federal partners to trace the origin of the call and prevent similar incidents in the future.
In a broader context, UVA’s experience is not unique. The university joined a list of over a dozen other colleges and universities that have faced false reports of active shooters on campus during the fall semester alone, with most of those incidents occurring in August, according to The Cavalier Daily. This trend has become a troubling phenomenon across the country, raising concerns about the impact such hoaxes have on campus communities, law enforcement resources, and the mental health of students and staff.
For UVA, the events of November 3 marked the first time since February 27, 2025, that a “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT” alert had been issued. The last instance followed a report of an active knife attacker near Alumni Hall. These alerts, while essential for safety, can be deeply unsettling, particularly in a climate where mass shootings and violent incidents have become all too familiar in the news.
In the aftermath, university officials emphasized the importance of relying on official communications during emergencies. Longo cautioned students against trusting unverified information circulating on social media, underscoring that the university’s alerts are the most reliable source during a crisis. The university’s commitment to transparency and regular updates, he said, is designed to keep the community informed and safe.
As the investigation into the false report continues, the University of Virginia community is left to process the emotional aftershocks of a day that could have ended very differently. The swift response of law enforcement, the steady communication from university officials, and the support services now offered to those affected all serve as reminders of the delicate balance between vigilance and reassurance in today’s campus environment.
For now, life at UVA returns to normal, but the lessons learned from this false alarm will likely shape campus safety protocols—and the community’s sense of security—for some time to come.
