The University of South Carolina has given the all-clear after a shelter-in-place order on Sunday evening over reports of a possible active shooter near the Thomas Cooper Library . Officials later confirmed there was no evidence of a gunman, and the alert was issued out of “an abundance of caution.”
The first Carolina Alert went out shortly after 6:45 pm (local time), instructing students to evacuate the library area, seek shelter, and barricade themselves if necessary. It described the suspect as a white male, about six feet tall, in black pants, with the stark message, “Defend yourself if you encounter the suspect. Obey public safety officials’ commands.”
According to news agency AP, university spokesman Jeff Stensland said law enforcement swept the library floor by floor to ensure safety, noting that “the original alert was sent out of an abundance of caution.” He confirmed two students sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process.
Around 10 pm, the university declared the situation resolved. “ALL CLEAR. ALL CLEAR. There is no ongoing emergency at this time; you no longer need to shelter in place . The Thomas Cooper Library building remains closed until further notice. Public safety officials are on the scene,” the alert read.
The scare was likely sparked by a video circulated online that claimed to show the alleged shooter carrying a long rifle. In reality, the man appeared to be holding an umbrella while wearing black shorts, a green shirt, white shoes, and a backpack.
Social media quickly picked up the clip, with some students questioning why such alerts keep recurring. Others later mocked the panic by sharing a pic of the smiling alleged “University of South Carolina Umbrella Guy.”
As per Newsweek, EMS treated a small number of students for minor injuries during the evacuation.
The episode follows a spate of similar scares on US campuses. Just days earlier, Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga both experienced false active-shooter reports that led to panic and lockdowns.
In Pennsylvania, a 911 caller falsely reported a shooter at Villanova’s law school; in Tennessee, authorities lifted a lockdown after confirming no evidence of a threat.
The University of South Carolina, located in Columbia, is home to nearly 38,000 students in a city of about 145,000.
The first Carolina Alert went out shortly after 6:45 pm (local time), instructing students to evacuate the library area, seek shelter, and barricade themselves if necessary. It described the suspect as a white male, about six feet tall, in black pants, with the stark message, “Defend yourself if you encounter the suspect. Obey public safety officials’ commands.”
According to news agency AP, university spokesman Jeff Stensland said law enforcement swept the library floor by floor to ensure safety, noting that “the original alert was sent out of an abundance of caution.” He confirmed two students sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process.
Around 10 pm, the university declared the situation resolved. “ALL CLEAR. ALL CLEAR. There is no ongoing emergency at this time; you no longer need to shelter in place . The Thomas Cooper Library building remains closed until further notice. Public safety officials are on the scene,” the alert read.
The scare was likely sparked by a video circulated online that claimed to show the alleged shooter carrying a long rifle. In reality, the man appeared to be holding an umbrella while wearing black shorts, a green shirt, white shoes, and a backpack.
A video claimed to show the active shooter at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, carrying what some are claiming to be a long-rifle (looks more like an umbrella to me), wearing black shorts, a green shirt, and white shoes, with a black backpack, last seen walking near… pic.twitter.com/ywdSKWMnJR
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 24, 2025
Social media quickly picked up the clip, with some students questioning why such alerts keep recurring. Others later mocked the panic by sharing a pic of the smiling alleged “University of South Carolina Umbrella Guy.”
University of South Carolina Umbrella Guy pic.twitter.com/LFiqyF1MIN
— Eleni Ferderigos (@blue_75738) August 25, 2025
As per Newsweek, EMS treated a small number of students for minor injuries during the evacuation.
The episode follows a spate of similar scares on US campuses. Just days earlier, Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga both experienced false active-shooter reports that led to panic and lockdowns.
In Pennsylvania, a 911 caller falsely reported a shooter at Villanova’s law school; in Tennessee, authorities lifted a lockdown after confirming no evidence of a threat.
The University of South Carolina, located in Columbia, is home to nearly 38,000 students in a city of about 145,000.
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