The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is responding to Thursday’s announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania regarding federal charges filed against a juvenile accused of carrying out a series of swatting calls targeting universities across the United States—including the Aug. 21, 2025, active shooter hoax at UTC.
Read the full DOJ announcement.
According to the Department of Justice, the charges stem from a nationwide pattern of hoax emergency calls made in August 2025, in which institutions were falsely reported as experiencing active shooter incidents. The defendant is alleged to be affiliated with a cybercriminal group and to have selected institutions at random, with no connection to the campuses targeted.
The Aug. 21, 2025, incident at UTC began with a false report of an active shooter inside the campus library, prompting an immediate and large-scale law enforcement response. The campus was placed on alert and buildings were cleared before authorities confirmed there was no threat to the community.
Federal officials emphasized that “swatting” calls—false reports designed to trigger emergency response—are a growing national concern, diverting critical public safety resources and causing widespread fear.
“We are grateful to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their leadership and persistence in identifying those responsible for this dangerous and disruptive act,” said UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce. “The FBI’s work sends a clear message that individuals who seek to terrorize communities through hoaxes will be held accountable.”
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from numerous law enforcement agencies nationwide. Authorities have indicated that affected institutions will be provided information on how to connect with the FBI as part of victim notification efforts.
The Aug. 21 incident at UTC was among the first in a series of coordinated swatting calls that targeted multiple universities across the country over several days, causing campus lockdowns and widespread disruption.
UTC continues to encourage members of the campus community to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and follow official university communications during emergency situations.
The charges referenced are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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[1] This press release pertains to the federal prosecution of a juvenile.
Please note that, under the Juvenile Delinquency Act, the entire proceeding is subject to the limitations set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 5038, which forbid disclosure of the identity of the juvenile, as well as information and records related to the juvenile proceedings, to anyone except the court, the prosecuting authorities, the juvenile’s counsel, and others specifically authorized to receive such records.
More information on confidentiality requirements in federal juvenile prosecutions can be found here.
