(Thechieftainspear) – Students and faculty at Claremont McKenna College experienced a tense and chaotic afternoon on Thursday after a false report of an active shooter prompted a large-scale emergency response. Authorities later confirmed the call was a “swatting” incident—an illegal hoax designed to elicit a massive police reaction.
The fabricated threat led to lockdowns, evacuations, and a surge of law enforcement personnel across the campus. Claremont Police Department officials said the caller falsely claimed they were inside a restroom on campus, holding a hostage and threatening violence. The hoaxer also alleged they had a bomb and planned to attack anyone they encountered with a rifle.
The alarming call set off an immediate shelter-in-place order at 4:55 p.m., according to The Student Life, the school’s newspaper. Campus security quickly alerted students and staff about police activity and the potential threat, urging them to seek safety.
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Eyewitnesses described scenes of fear and confusion. Some students near the edge of Claremont McKenna’s campus were evacuated north toward Harvey Mudd College, while others were directed to Pitzer College for safety. Vehicles approaching the campus were turned away by security personnel as law enforcement set up a perimeter.
Aerial footage captured by news helicopters showed heavily armed officers, including SWAT teams, deploying around the school. A Bearcat armored vehicle and multiple police cruisers were stationed outside, while officers methodically searched buildings and students before allowing them to return.
One student, identified only as Gabe, described the terrifying moment he received the emergency alert. “I was just doing homework, getting ready for a paper due, and suddenly I get a text about a ‘potential shooter.’ I look outside, and there are SWAT teams everywhere. The next thing I know, we’re being told to evacuate and lock our doors,” he said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including officers from Claremont, La Verne, Ontario, and Upland, responded to the threat. As a precaution, the school canceled evening classes while police conducted their investigation.
Approximately two hours after the initial report, officials determined the threat was unfounded and lifted the shelter-in-place order.
This swatting incident occurred just a day after another false emergency call targeted Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, needlessly putting patients, families, and medical staff on high alert. Authorities are now investigating the source of these hoaxes, which carry serious legal consequences, including felony charges, significant fines, and possible jail time.
Law enforcement agencies continue to warn about the dangers of swatting, emphasizing that these hoaxes not only waste resources but also put lives at risk .
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