{"id":76734,"date":"2026-05-01T13:45:55","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T17:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=76734"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:59:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T17:59:15","slug":"fbi-announces-arrest-involving-aug-21-2025-active-shooter-hoax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/fbi-announces-arrest-involving-aug-21-2025-active-shooter-hoax\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI announces arrest involving\u00a0Aug. 21,\u00a02025\u00a0active shooter hoax\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is responding to\u00a0Thursday\u2019s announcement by the U.S. Attorney\u2019s 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\u2014including the Aug. 21,\u00a02025,\u00a0active shooter hoax at UTC.<\/p>\n

Read the full DOJ announcement.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0a\u00a0cybercriminal group and to have selected institutions at random, with no connection to the campuses targeted.<\/p>\n

The Aug. 21,\u00a02025,\u00a0incident 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\u00a0alert\u00a0and buildings were cleared before authorities confirmed there was no threat to the community.<\/p>\n

Federal officials emphasized that \u201cswatting\u201d calls\u2014false reports designed to trigger emergency response\u2014are a growing national concern, diverting critical public safety resources and causing widespread fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their leadership and persistence in identifying those responsible for this dangerous and disruptive act,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce.\u00a0\u201cThe FBI\u2019s work sends a clear message that individuals who seek to terrorize communities through hoaxes will be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from\u00a0numerous\u00a0law enforcement agencies nationwide. Authorities have\u00a0indicated\u00a0that affected institutions will be\u00a0provided\u00a0information on how to connect with the FBI as part of victim notification efforts.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

UTC continues to encourage members of the campus community to remain vigilant, report suspicious\u00a0activities\u00a0and follow official university communications during emergency situations.<\/p>\n

The charges referenced are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.<\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a>\u202fThis press release pertains to the federal prosecution of a juvenile.<\/p>\n

Please note that, under the Juvenile Delinquency Act, the entire proceeding is subject to the limitations set forth in 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 5038,\u202fwhich 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\u2019s counsel, and others specifically authorized to receive such records.<\/p>\n

More information on confidentiality requirements in federal juvenile prosecutions can be found\u202fhere<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is responding to\u00a0Thursday\u2019s announcement by the U.S. Attorney\u2019s 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\u2014including the Aug. 21,\u00a02025,\u00a0active shooter hoax at UTC. Read the full DOJ announcement.… <\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7712,64,8293,661],"tags":[127082],"class_list":{"0":"post-76734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-faculty-and-staff","7":"category-news","8":"category-office-of-the-chancellor","9":"category-students","10":"tag-aug-21-2025-incident","11":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nFBI announces arrest 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