Emergency systems test at SMU triggers false ‘active shooter’ alert
A campus alert warning of an active shooter at Southern Methodist University on Friday afternoon was a false alarm, university officials said.
The alert was sent as part of a planned test of the university’s emergency notification system, according to a post on a university X account.
The initial message, sent at 3:52 p.m. Friday, read: “SMU Alert! Active shooter reported on campus. Avoid. Deny. Defend. Police are responding. More info soon.”
A follow-up message sent at 4:22 p.m. clarified that there was no threat to campus and that the alert had been “inadvertently initiated” during a test of indoor alert systems, according to screenshots of the alert.
“Please be assured this was only part of the planned test of our emergency notification systems —there was never a danger to campus,” university officials said on X. “We know the unexpected message may have caused concern, and we truly appreciate your patience.”
