University of Arkansas among colleges with active shooter hoaxes in August

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Since the start of the fall semester, students at 10 U.S. colleges have gotten false reports of active shooters on campus. On August 25, students at the University of Arkansas joined that list.

Just after noon on Aug. 25, University of Arkansas students received a message from the school’s RazALERT informing them of a possible active shooter. Students sheltered in place on campus for more than an hour before an all-clear was given.

During a news conference with the media, University of Arkansas Police Department Assistant Chief Matt Mills said the department received 308 landline phone calls and 38 9-1-1 calls from seven different buildings reporting a shooter on campus.

However, police say there is no record of shots being fired, and the department believes the incident looks like swatting or a hoax call.

The University of Arkansas is not alone when it comes to false reports of possible active shooters on campus.

Other colleges have received active shooter alerts

Since students returned to college campuses for the fall semester, at least 10 schools have received reports of an active shooter.

Those alerts have been sent to students at these schools since the start of the school year:

• University of Colorado at Boulder
• LSU-Alexandria
• Iowa State University
• Kansas State University
• University of New Hampshire
• Northern Arizona University
• University of South Carolina
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Villanova University

Are all of the false alarms connected?

After the false alarm at Northern Arizona University on Monday, the school said in a statement that an investigation into the false report was underway with assistance from the FBI.

An FBI spokesperson told NBC News that the bureau was aware of many of the reported incidents and was helping with investigations.

“The FBI continues to work with state and local partners to investigate the swatting hoaxes but cannot say at this stage whether or not the incidents are connected,” the FBI said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.