On Monday, September 20, 2024, Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, was thrust into a state of panic and uncertainty as reports of an active shooter and potential hostage situation swept across the campus. At approximately 5 p.m., students were instructed to shelter in place, with local law enforcement responding swiftly to the unfolding crisis. What initially appeared to be a dire threat to the safety of the university community turned out to be a terrifying but false alarm—a swatting incident that left the campus shaken. This detailed account explores the events that transpired, the nature of swatting calls, and their impacts on campuses and communities like Monmouth University.
The Calm Before the Chaos: An Ordinary Afternoon Turns Terrifying
It was a typical Monday afternoon on the Monmouth University campus, with students attending classes, studying in the library, and enjoying late-summer activities. The campus, nestled in West Long Branch, NJ, is known for its serene environment and tight-knit community of students and faculty. Monmouth, a private university founded in 1933, had grown into a respected institution, offering a blend of academic excellence and a peaceful campus experience.
That peace was shattered shortly before 5 p.m. when university authorities issued an urgent alert. The message, delivered through multiple channels, including text, email, and social media, urged all students, faculty, and staff to shelter in place immediately due to an active police investigation on campus.
The specifics of the threat were not initially clear, but rumors quickly spread, suggesting the possibility of an active shooter or a hostage situation in one of the student dormitories. The campus community found itself in a state of confusion, fear, and anxiety as everyone scrambled to make sense of the rapidly unfolding events.
The Shelter-in-Place Order: Tension Mounts Across Campus
As the shelter-in-place order was issued, students and faculty reacted in various ways. Some locked themselves inside classrooms or dormitories, following protocols established for emergencies of this nature. Professors halted lectures, guiding students to safer areas and locking classroom doors. Others who were outside at the time of the alert quickly sought cover in nearby buildings, while those who were off-campus received panicked messages from friends and family urging them to stay away from the university grounds.
One student, Jenna Stevens, a sophomore at Monmouth, was in the campus library when the alert came through. She described the tension that immediately set in: “We were all just sitting there, studying, and then suddenly our phones started going off. At first, people weren’t sure if it was real, but then we saw the message—‘shelter in place’—and people started freaking out. The librarian told us to get to the back of the building, and we all huddled there, just waiting for more information.”
Across the campus, similar scenes played out. Students texted their parents and friends, letting them know they were safe, but the uncertainty weighed heavily on everyone. It was impossible to know if there was truly an immediate threat, and with little information available, speculation ran rampant.
University officials, meanwhile, worked in coordination with local law enforcement, including the West Long Branch Police Department, campus security, and emergency services. The primary focus was to ensure that all students and faculty were accounted for and safely sheltered, while police attempted to locate and assess the nature of the reported threat.
A Massive Law Enforcement Response: Assessing the Threat
Within minutes of the shelter-in-place order, local law enforcement arrived in force. The West Long Branch Police Department was the first to respond, but soon they were joined by Monmouth County Sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, and tactical response units. Their focus quickly centered on one of the dormitories, where the initial report of an active shooter or hostage situation had been directed.
The police, dressed in tactical gear and carrying heavy weaponry, moved swiftly to secure the area. Officers established a perimeter around the dormitory, blocking off nearby roads and directing students and residents to stay clear of the scene. Medical teams were also stationed nearby, ready to treat any potential victims if the situation escalated into violence.
Rumors swirled among students and faculty as they waited anxiously for updates. Some claimed to have heard gunshots, while others speculated about a hostage situation. As social media posts spread, panic intensified, with people inside and outside the campus trying to piece together what was happening.
The minutes felt like hours, with no clear information about the severity of the threat. Police communications were tightly controlled, and the campus-wide alert system remained focused on maintaining the shelter-in-place order, leaving many students to fear the worst.
One student, Brandon Foster, a junior living in the dorms, described the moment he realized something was wrong. “I was just in my room, watching TV, and then I heard all this commotion outside. At first, I thought it was nothing, but then the alert came through, and we had to lock our doors. My roommate and I just sat there in the dark, waiting. We could hear sirens and shouting outside, but we had no idea what was really going on.”
The Revelation: A Swatting Call
As the police response continued, it became clear to law enforcement officials that the initial reports of an active shooter and hostage situation were not matching the reality on the ground. After a thorough search of the dormitory and surrounding areas, officers confirmed that there was no shooter, no hostages, and no immediate threat to the campus community.
The entire situation had been the result of a “swatting” call—a false report made to emergency services with the intent of triggering a massive law enforcement response. Swatting, a term that originated from the practice of prank-calling SWAT teams to unsuspecting locations, has become an increasingly troubling phenomenon in recent years. These hoaxes are not only dangerous, but they also waste valuable law enforcement resources and can lead to unnecessary panic, injury, or even death.
At around 6 p.m., just under an hour after the initial alert was issued, Monmouth University officials sent out an all-clear message, informing the campus community that the threat had been identified as a hoax and that it was safe to resume normal activities. The shelter-in-place order was lifted, but the emotional aftermath of the false alarm would linger long after the immediate danger had passed.
The Aftermath: Relief, Anger, and Lingering Fear
When the all-clear message was finally given, the sense of relief among students, faculty, and their families was palpable. Many immediately reached out to loved ones to let them know they were safe, while others slowly emerged from their locked dorms and classrooms, shaken but unharmed.
However, relief quickly gave way to anger for some. The knowledge that the entire ordeal had been a hoax—a deliberate attempt to sow fear and chaos—left many feeling violated and furious. “I’m just so mad,” said Sarah Pearson, a senior at Monmouth. “Someone thought it was funny to do this, to make us all think we were going to die. It’s not a joke. It’s terrifying.”
Students weren’t the only ones feeling the weight of the situation. Parents, many of whom had spent the last hour frantically trying to get in touch with their children, expressed their outrage over the hoax. “I was scared out of my mind,” said one parent, who had been in constant contact with her daughter during the lockdown. “I couldn’t believe that this was happening. And then to find out it was all a lie—it’s just infuriating.”
While the immediate threat had passed, the emotional toll of the swatting call was significant. The fear and anxiety that had gripped the campus for nearly an hour left many students shaken, with some even questioning their sense of safety on campus. The university’s counseling services were made available to students in the aftermath, with the administration encouraging anyone who needed support to reach out.
The Broader Issue: Swatting and Its Consequences
The incident at Monmouth University is part of a broader, troubling trend of swatting incidents across the country. These hoaxes have become more frequent in recent years, fueled by the anonymity of the internet and the ease with which false reports can be made to emergency services. In some cases, swatting calls have been made as pranks, but in others, they have been used as forms of harassment or retaliation.
The consequences of swatting can be devastating. In addition to the emotional toll on those involved, swatting incidents can result in physical harm or even death. There have been cases in which innocent people have been injured or killed during law enforcement responses to false reports, highlighting the very real dangers of this form of criminal activity.
In the case of Monmouth University, no one was physically harmed, but the emotional and psychological impact was significant. Students, faculty, and staff were left grappling with the fear and uncertainty of the lockdown, while law enforcement was forced to divert resources from other important tasks to respond to the false alarm.
Moving Forward: Lessons Learned and Calls for Accountability
In the wake of the swatting incident, Monmouth University officials and local law enforcement vowed to take steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. University President Patrick F. Leahy issued a statement condemning the hoax and reassuring students and parents that the school would work closely with law enforcement to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
“We take the safety and security of our campus community very seriously,” President Leahy said. “This was a malicious act designed to cause fear and disruption, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. We are also reviewing our emergency protocols to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for any future incidents, whether real or false.”
Law enforcement officials echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the seriousness of swatting and the need for stronger penalties for those who engage in such activities. “Swatting is not a harmless prank—it’s a dangerous and illegal act that puts lives at risk,” said West Long Branch Police Chief Michael F. McGee. “We will work diligently to investigate this incident and bring the perpetrator to justice.”
As Monmouth University moves forward from the swatting incident, the focus will be on healing and learning from the experience. The campus community, while shaken, remains resilient, with students, faculty, and staff coming together to support one another in the aftermath of the hoax.
While the immediate danger may have been averted, the emotional scars of the swatting incident will take time to heal. But in the face of fear and uncertainty, the Monmouth University community has shown its strength, determined to move forward with greater awareness, preparedness, and resolve
