Alert of possible shooter at Claremont McKenna College turned out to be hoax

An alert of a possible shooter at Claremont McKenna College Thursday evening that prompted shelter in place orders and a multi-agency law enforcement response turned out to be a false report, according to Claremont police.

Someone called Claremont police around 4:44 p.m. claiming they were holding someone captive in a Claremont McKenna bathroom and had a bomb, the Claremont Police Department said. The caller also threatened to walk around campus with a rifle and shoot anyone they saw.

The campus community received a series of alerts as officials from the Claremont, La Verne, Ontario and Upland police departments arrived to investigate.

An initial alert that came through at 4:56 p.m. warned the community of police activity on campus, before a 5:11 p.m. email that said there was a possible shooter.

“POTENTIAL SHOOTER ON CMC CAMPUS STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA GHEAVY (sic) POLICE PRESENCE IN THE AREA,” the alert read.

Recipients were urged to avoid all places where law enforcement was present and to call 911 or campus police if they saw any suspicious activity.

At 5:15 p.m., campus safety officials urged anyone on campus to shelter in place.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call to standby at 5:12 p.m. They remained on standby as of 6:40 p.m.

Earlier, about a dozen police and SWAT vehicles were seen around Columbia and 8th Street, and two helicopters circled overhead.

After searches of the Claremont McKenna campus as well as buildings on neighboring Claremont Colleges campuses, law enforcement didn’t find any victims or anyone with a weapon. Police determined the situation to be a swatting call, or a false report to law enforcement meant to provoke a large response.

Ryan Shakiba, a Claremont McKenna student, said he was walking on campus when Campus Safety told everyone to leave.

“We were told about an hour ago by campus security to run and to get off campus,” Shakiba said. “I don’t know much more beyond that, but I can’t return to my dorm as of now.

“It’s crazy,” he added, “this is happening the last day before spring break.”

Police ask anyone with information about the false report to contact the department at 909-399-5411.