What the String of Active Shooter Hoaxes Means for Texans

Texas Tech University (TTU) was the recent victim in a string of hoax calls to law enforcement claiming there was an active shooter on campus. In what officials are calling "swatting," valuable law enforcement resources are spent tending to these fake calls.

Texas Tech Active Shooter Hoax

On Wednesday, TTU received an anonymous report of an active shooter in the southeast portion of the campus. Once police rushed to the scene, they soon discovered that it was a fake call.

The university posted to X shortly after the incident occurred:

This was just the latest in a recent trend of false reports saying there are active shooters on college campuses and that students must evacuate.

Other schools that have been included in the string of hoax calls include the University of New Hampshire, Iowa State University, University of Colorado, and Kansas State University.

How to Protect Yourself Against an Active Shooter

Calls of an active shooter at businesses or schools should never be falsely reported, but in the case of an actual emergency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) provided a plan of attack when it comes to protecting yourself.

Run

Your first goal should be to evacuate the room or building away from the shooter's known location. Leave your belongings behind, and if police are present, keep your hands empty and raised.

Don't stop until you reach a safe location away from any danger.

Hide

If running is not possible, you should immediately locate a hiding place. If you hide in a room, make sure you are able to lock AND barricade the door and any other entrances. Make sure all phones in the room are silenced and that everyone remains quiet.

Fight

When all else fails, when you have nowhere to run or hide, fighting is your last resort. Grab any object that can be used as a makeshift weapon, and remember that fighting in groups has a better chance of incapacitating a shooter.

The FBI closes with these words: "You are fighting for your life. Don't fight fair!"