A false report of an active shooter caused a major police response at Claremont McKenna College on Thursday evening. The incident is part of a troubling trend of “swatting” calls, which have recently increased in Southern California.
The Claremont Police Department received a call around 4:45 p.m. The caller claimed to be in a restroom on the college campus, holding someone captive and threatening to harm them. They also mentioned having a bomb and said they would shoot anyone they saw.
In response, multiple law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene. Officers searched Claremont McKenna College and nearby campuses, including Pomona College and Scripps College. Fortunately, they found no signs of an active shooter or any victims. The shelter-in-place order for students was lifted around 7:30 p.m.
Students were understandably shaken by the event. One student, Gabe, described how he was doing homework when he received a text alerting him about the potential shooter. He looked out to see SWAT teams and police officers, prompting him to leave the campus for safety.
This incident followed a similar false report just a day earlier at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, where a caller claimed to be armed inside the facility. That situation also led to a significant police response before being declared safe.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus spoke out about the impact of these hoaxes, stating that they divert resources away from real emergencies and create unnecessary panic.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has noted that swatting calls often occur in clusters and are meant to harass or intimidate targets. In January 2024, federal agencies tracked over 100 threats to various locations across the country.
In light of these events, Claremont McKenna College’s Dean of Students acknowledged the fear caused by the situation in an email to students. Classes were canceled during the incident but are set to resume on Friday. The college also reminded students of available counseling resources to help them cope with the stress of the situation.