Harvard Dorm Target Of Hoax Active Shooter Call: Reports

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Police showed up in riot gear with guns drawn at a Harvard University dorm room early Monday morning in what ended up being a false alarm due to a swatting call, according to WHDH 7-News. The incident occurred at Leverett Towers at around 3:50 a.m.

Four seniors were in their suite sleeping when campus police called. When the students did not respond, Harvard University police officers arrived at their door and told the students to come out with their hands up.

Once the students got out, officers explained to them what was going on. A student told WHDH 7-NEWS that a caller had told police there was an active shooter on campus, specifically saying they were going to kill two girls in Leverett Tower F91.

However, police responded within minutes, cleared the scene, and did not identify any threats.

One of the students, Jarah Cotton, said it was "a traumatic experience," as the students were ushered out of their suite at gunpoint, according to Boston.com.

The university has provided a list of available resources for students to cope with the incident.

Swatting calls are an increasing problem in Massachusetts and across the country. Following a mass shooting at a Tennessee school last month, state police said up to 28 communities were the target of swatting calls. High schools in Milford, Medway, Framingham, Mansfield, and Melrose were all targeted by the calls.

See related: Multiple MA Schools Targeted By 'Swatting' Calls