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From UTC Officials
CHATTANOOGA—The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is responding to Thursday’s announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania regarding federal charges filed against a juvenile accused of carrying out a series of swatting calls targeting universities across the United States—including the Aug. 21, 2025, active shooter hoax at UTC.
Read the full DOJ announcement
According to the Department of Justice, the charges stem from a nationwide pattern of hoax emergency calls made in August 2025, in which institutions were falsely reported as experiencing active shooter incidents. The defendant is alleged to be affiliated with a cybercriminal group and to have selected institutions at random, with no connection to the campuses targeted.
The Aug. 21, 2025, incident at UTC began with a false report of an active shooter inside the campus library, prompting an immediate and large-scale law enforcement response. The campus was placed on alert and buildings were cleared before authorities confirmed there was no threat to the community.
Federal officials emphasized that “swatting” calls—false reports designed to trigger emergency response—are a growing national concern, diverting critical public safety resources and causing widespread fear.
“We are grateful to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their leadership and persistence in identifying those responsible for this dangerous and disruptive act,” said UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce. “The FBI’s work sends a clear message that individuals who seek to terrorize communities through hoaxes will be held accountable.”
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from numerous law enforcement agencies nationwide. Authorities have indicated that affected institutions will be provided information on how to connect with the FBI as part of victim notification efforts.
The Aug. 21 incident at UTC was among the first in a series of coordinated swatting calls that targeted multiple universities across the country over several days, causing campus lockdowns and widespread disruption.
UTC continues to encourage members of the campus community to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and follow official university communications during emergency situations.
The charges referenced are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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[1] This press release pertains to the federal prosecution of a juvenile.
Please note that, under the Juvenile Delinquency Act, the entire proceeding is subject to the limitations set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 5038, which forbid disclosure of the identity of the juvenile, as well as information and records related to the juvenile proceedings, to anyone except the court, the prosecuting authorities, the juvenile’s counsel, and others specifically authorized to receive such records.
More information on confidentiality requirements in federal juvenile prosecutions can be found here.
Dear UTC Community,
I want to share an important update regarding the Aug. 21, 2025, swatting incident that affected our campus.
On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that federal charges have been filed against a juvenile in connection with that incident, as well as similar hoaxes targeting dozens of universities and hospitals across the country in the days and weeks that followed.
As you will recall, the false report prompted an immediate and significant multi-agency emergency response here at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as our law enforcement partners acted swiftly to ensure the safety of our community.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors, the individual charged is a self-identified member of a cybercriminal group and had no affiliation with UTC or the other institutions that were targeted.
Incidents like this are deeply disruptive, and I know many of you felt the impact in very real ways. As part of the legal process, those affected have an opportunity to share how this incident impacted them. I encourage members of our campus community—as well as family and friends who were affected—to consider submitting a victim impact statement. These statements may be included in the legal proceedings, and the FBI keeps all victim identities confidential.
To participate, please complete the Victim Impact Information for University Swatting Incidents form here: https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/university-swattings/view
Because this case involves a juvenile, there are legal limitations on what additional information can be shared at this time under the Juvenile Delinquency Act. If you have questions specifically about the victim impact statement process, please contact our Department of Public Safety at dps@utc.edu.
I remain grateful to our campus community for your cooperation during the Aug. 21 incident and to our local, state, and federal partners for their continued commitment to safety and accountability. We will continue to prioritize your safety and well-being in all that we do.
Sincerely,
Lori Mann Bruce,
Chancellor
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
