Villanova University orders lockdown amid reports of active shooter on campus during freshman orientation

Villanova University went on lockdown Thursday afternoon following reports of an active shooter on campus. 

Around 4:30 p.m., the school sent an alert for students and staff on campus to stay clear of the Charles Widger School of Law, lock or barricade doors and move to a secure location. The Radnor Township Police Department said it was on location and asked anyone on campus to shelter in place. 

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Freshman orientation at the Delaware County school started Wednesday, with events scheduled through Sunday. On Thursday, an opening mass for students was scheduled for 4:15-5:15 p.m. on the Rowan Campus Green. 

Shortly after 5:30 p.m., Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer arrived at Villanova’s campus and told 6ABC that investigators are actively searching for an armed suspect. 

“We believe there is a shooter who’s in one of these buildings,” he said. “We have law enforcement from the entire tri-state area here, and we are going door to door, room to room if we have to, to make this situation under control and to make this campus safe.” 

Stollsteimer declined to say whether he knew of injuries to any shooting victims. 

“Every parent’s worst nightmare is happening right now,” he said. “First day of school, you’re sending your child off to a place you believe they’re going to be safe and educated and get their promising future taken care of — and this happens.”

Villanova’s Charles Widger School of Law is part of the main campus, but it’s separated from most of the college’s other academic buildings by SEPTA’s Paoli/Thorndale Regional Rail line. The law school is located on Spring Mill Road across from multiple student residence buildings.

A PhillyVoice staff member who was on campus Thursday for events to welcome new students and their families said she and others were locked inside the Villanova bookstore, which is located across the law school. The lights were turned off and people were hiding in the store’s clothing racks, she said.

An X user, who said he was on campus to help move in his sister, an incoming freshman, posted a photo from inside a room that showed furniture piled in front of the door.

“Barricaded to the best of our ability,” Luke Sullivan wrote.

State Rep. Lisa Borowski, whose district includes parts of Delaware County, urged people on campus to “stay out of the way of law enforcement and first responders” and “let them do their jobs.” Sen. Dave McCormick, the junior lawmaker from Pennsylvania, said he was “aware of and monitoring the situation at Villanova.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro said his office would share “additional information as it becomes available.”

SEPTA is bypassing its Villanova and Stadium stations until further notice.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information is available. 

Senior staff writer Kristin Hunt contributed to this report.