CU Boulder Shelter-in-Place Triggered by Suspected “Swatting” Call

Boulder, Colo., August 26, 2025 - The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) issued a campus-wide shelter-in-place early Tuesday morning after police responded to what officials now believe was a “swatting” hoax near Norlin Library.

What Is Swatting? Swatting is a form of criminal harassment in which an individual makes a false report of a serious emergency-such as an active shooter, bomb threat, or hostage situation-to emergency services, with the aim of provoking an armed law enforcement response, often by a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team. Callers frequently spoof phone numbers or provide personalized details to make the threat appear credible. Though sometimes dismissed as a prank, swatting can endanger innocent lives, waste public safety resources, and inflict significant psychological trauma.

Incident Details At approximately 4:30 a.m. MDT, CU Boulder’s emergency notification system alerted students and staff to shelter in place after a 911 caller reported shots fired near Norlin Library. Within minutes, Boulder Police Department officers and CU Police Department (CUPD) units descended on the area, evacuating Norlin Library and adjacent Sewall Hall.

• By 5:16 a.m., authorities confirmed no evidence of gunfire, suspects, or injured individuals.
• At 5:40 a.m., investigators announced the call was likely a swatting attempt-part of a recent wave of false active-shooter reports directed at U.S. college campuses.
• The lockdown was lifted for all campus buildings except Norlin Library, which remained closed as a precaution while detectives combed the scene.

CU Boulder spokesperson Karen Smith urged calm, saying, “While there was no actual threat, we must treat every call seriously to ensure the safety of our community. We regret the disruption but thank our students and staff for their cooperation.”

Broader Context This incident follows a string of swatting hoaxes at universities across the country in recent days. Institutions such as the University of Arkansas, Villanova University, and Iowa State University have all faced similar false active-shooter alerts, prompting lockdowns and intense law enforcement responses. Authorities nationwide are investigating whether these incidents are connected and are urging the public to report any information that could lead to the perpetrators.

Officials remind anyone with knowledge of the call’s origin to contact the Boulder Police Department tip line. Swatting is a federal offense in many jurisdictions, punishable by hefty fines and imprisonment, reflecting the serious risks such hoaxes pose to public safety.