Lockdown lifted at Grove City College after no evidence found of 'potentially dangerous situation'

Grove City College lifted the precautionary lockdown on campus just before 7 p.m Sunday, following police investigating a “potentially dangerous situation” at the school just hours before.

“Police searched the campus of Grove City College Sunday afternoon after someone reported an individual with a gun in the area of Henry Buhl Library,” the Campus Safety department told students by email. “Local law enforcement and Campus Safety responded immediately. The library was evacuated and a shelter in place was issued in accordance with campus safety protocols.

“Security video footage has been reviewed and campus buildings have been cleared. No evidence has been found to confirm the initial report.

“We have been advised by law enforcement that there have been a number of swatting incidents in the region today.”

The precautionary lockdown was lifted at 6:50 p.m. and normal campus operations resumed.

The Pennsylvania State Police, in a Sunday evening statement, said that “no evidence of an active shooter, or victims or witnesses claiming an active shooter was ever present at the library, was found. This is believed to be a computer-generated swatting call.”

Students received the first email alert at 4:44 p.m, saying that police were investigating a situation near the Buhl Library. It was followed by an alert at 5:39 p.m. saying that “Campus Safety has issued a precautionary lockdown of the Grove City College campus. Shelter in place until further notice.”

Just after 6 p.m., students were informed that the “surrounding community is safe, and anything received indicates it’s contained on campus. No one has been injured; no active threat is occurring at the moment.”

At 7:30 p.m., the Grove City Police Department released a statement similar to that of college: “Today at 3:55 p.m. Grove City Police received a call from an unknown person who reported that there was a man with a gun at the Grove City College Library. Grove City Police immediately responded to the College Library and began a search of the building. Finding no threat, the search expanded to the entirety of Grove City College Campus.” The statement noted the involvement of state police and other local police forces and said that “a thorough search of the entire campus and surrounding area was performed, and no threat was located.”