Villanova lockdown after active shooter alert near Scarpa Hall

An active shooter incident prompted an on-campus lockdown and shelter-in-place orders at Villanova University on Thursday afternoon, with police on the scene and university safety officials directing students and staff to stay indoors and avoid the Law School area as investigators worked to determine the situation. The alerts were issued as new student orientation activities were underway, just days before the start of the fall term.

The first alert came around 4:30 p.m., notifying the campus of an active shooter and urging individuals to move to secure locations, lock and barricade doors, and stay in place while authorities investigated. A subsequent update focused attention on Scarpa Hall, the home of the Charles Widger School of Law, directing people to avoid the area while police conducted their operation. Radnor Township Police Department confirmed they were at the scene and requested shelter in place for nearby residents and students. The university’s Nova Alert system continued to push updates as the investigation unfolded, with officials promising more information as it became available.

Witnesses reported a scene of disruption and fear as the incident unfolded,...