Liputan6.com, Jakarta The University of Virginia (UVA) experienced a false active shooter incident that triggered panic and a campus lockdown on Monday, November 3, 2025.
The incident began around 3:00 PM EST when reports of an armed attacker were received in the Shannon Library area.
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The university immediately issued an emergency alert to the entire campus community, instructing them to follow the "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT" safety protocol.
All buildings on campus were locked down, and access to academic buildings was strictly restricted to maintain security.
Although ultimately confirmed as a false report, the incident at UVA raised deep concern and highlighted the vulnerabilities of campus security in America.
How the Incident Happened
On the afternoon of November 3, 2025, the University of Virginia received a shocking report of an active, armed attacker at Shannon Library.
UVA's Department of Safety and Security issued an emergency alert around 3:05 p.m. on Monday, warning of an "armed active attacker" near Shannon Library, at 160 McCormick Road.
Initial reports indicated multiple shots were fired inside the library, with two potential suspects, one described as a white male in his 30s or 40s.
In response to the report, UVA immediately issued an emergency alert that read: "UVA Emergency Alert: ACTIVE ATTACKER with a gun reported in the area of Shannon Library, 160 McCormick Road. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT."
This situation caused the campus to go into an emergency lockdown, with access to academic buildings restricted to those with access cards or valid ID.
Within 30 minutes of the first alert, UVA stated on its website that "no evidence" of the attacker had been found.
Police Response and Investigation
Police immediately responded to the report, deploying a large number of personnel to the Shannon Library premises.
They began an intensive investigation to verify the validity of the active shooter report.
During the lockdown, numerous witnesses reported a heavy police presence and an atmosphere of confusion around the UVA campus.
At 3:34 PM, authorities confirmed that no active shooter had been found on campus.
Police have issued an "all-clear" after the University of Virginia issued an emergency alert for an "active attacker with a gun" on Monday, as reported by WJLA.
However, the advisory to continue following the "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT" protocol remained in effect as a precautionary measure until the situation was completely cleared.
Lifting of the Lockdown
After an extensive investigation that found no evidence of an attack or threat, the "all-clear" was finally issued at 4:45 PM EST.
With the lifting of the lockdown, the UVA campus was able to gradually resume normal operations.
The incident was officially confirmed as a false report, but the investigation into the origin of the false report is ongoing.
UVA Interim President Paul G. Mahoney expressed his deep appreciation to law enforcement officers and first responders for their swift response.
He also acknowledged that the incident was frightening and concerning, and encouraged members of the UVA community to support each other and take advantage of the counseling services available on campus.