Columbia, SC — Students and staff at the University of South Carolina were forced into a panic on Sunday evening after an active shooter alert prompted an immediate campus-wide lockdown. Authorities later confirmed that no evidence of a gunman or gunfire was found.
Alert Sparks Immediate Evacuation
The university issued the alert around 6:30 p.m., notifying students via its emergency system that an active shooter had been reported at the Thomas Cooper Library on Greene Street. Students fled the library and sought safety across campus, while some improvised barricades inside buildings. The campus, normally bustling, quickly resembled a ghost town.
By 7:15 p.m., USC officials confirmed no active shooter had been found, and the university declared an all clear at 8:05 p.m. The library remained closed for safety. Two students sustained minor injuries during the evacuation, with no shooting-related injuries reported.
“We could not find an active shooter. We did find people who said they heard something that could have been gunshots. We didn’t find any shell casings,” said Scott Prill, USC’s deputy police chief. “We also received some reports that there have been some other hoaxes at universities.”
Videos circulating on social media claiming to show a suspect carrying a firearm were false, officials said.
Witness Accounts Describe Chaos
The reported shooter was described as a 6-foot white man wearing black pants. Witnesses said students ran with arms raised, and campus law enforcement and firefighters responded immediately. Agencies on site included USC Police, Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the FBI.
Students described panicked scenes at multiple locations. Kayda Thomas, Emersyn Smith, and Talia Diaz, first-year students from Fort Mill, recounted barricading themselves inside the Russell House student center during the chaos. Thomas said, “It’s just one of the scariest moments I’ve been through.” Both Thomas and her friends reported two students were injured, one with a head injury and another bleeding from the knee, caused by the stampede.
Nearby campus events were abruptly disrupted. Tables at the Catholic Student Mission barbecue were abandoned, and a cornhole game at the Methodist student center was left unfinished. Cool Beans coffee shop locked doors and kept patrons on the top floor for safety, while Panera Bread employees reported students running through the building in fear.
“We were just concerned about the kids because everybody was panicking and basically running over each other,” said Jocelyn O’Neal, a Panera employee.
Campus Returns to Normal, Support Offered
After the all-clear announcement, normal campus activities resumed. USC encouraged students needing emotional support to contact the Office of Student Health and Well-Being for resources.
This incident highlights the rapid and far-reaching effects of emergency alerts on university campuses and the importance of verifying information before sharing. While the scare caused temporary chaos and minor injuries, no weapons were found, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the false report.
What are your thoughts on campus safety and emergency alert systems? Share your experiences in the comments.
