URBANA, IL – The University of Illinois Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an active shooter on the South Quad in 1400 block of West Gregory Drive on Saturday night.
According to University Officers, it happened just before 9 p.m. Officers arrived on the scene within a minute and determined that there was no such activity occurring in the area.
The investigation into the false report is ongoing.
This incident comes amidst a wave of fake active shooter calls that have disrupted schools across the country in recent weeks. Such incidents can have serious consequences, including the deployment of law enforcement resources and the potential for injuries or panic among students and faculty.
The University of Illinois Police Department reminds the public that making false reports of criminal activity is a serious offense and can result in criminal charges. They also urge anyone who may have information about the false report to come forward and assist in the investigation.
The University of Illinois has implemented safety measures to respond to potential active shooter situations, including regular training for faculty, staff, and students, and the use of emergency notification systems to quickly alert the community in the event of an emergency.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, 11,523 people have died from gun violence so far this year, as of April 10th, amounting to around 115 deaths per day in 2023.
