Active Shooter Alert Mistakenly Sent Out to Thomas Jefferson University

Active Shooter Alert Mistakenly Sent Out to Thomas Jefferson University

An active shooter alert was erroneously sent out to Thomas Jefferson University’s East Falls campus Sunday morning while the university was testing its JeffAlert system.

  • By Kaitlyn DeHaven
  • July 10, 2019

An active shooter alert was mistakenly sent out to Thomas Jefferson University’s East Falls campus Sunday morning.

According to university spokeswoman Angela Showell, the university was testing its JeffAlert system because there were widespread power outages Saturday night due to storms. During testing, the alert was sent out accidentally. Since it is the summer holiday, Showell said there aren't many residents on campus right now.

The message encouraged students, faculty and university employees to follow emergency procedures.

“There’s an active shooter on the East Falls campus. Follow emergency procedures. Run. Hide. Act,” the message said.

Twenty minutes after the original message was sent out, an all-clear message was sent out, followed by a note to disregard the 10:15 a.m. message. A tweet further explained how the message had erroneously been sent out.

Showell said campus security and Philadelphia Police responded and conducted a thorough check before allowing the “all clear” to be sent out.

“The good news is the system works,” Showell said.

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • 77% of Americans Support Gun Detection Technology in Schools, Workplaces, and Houses of Worship

    More than three-quarters of Americans (77.4%) believe gun detection technology should be deployed in schools, workplaces, and other public spaces, according to new survey data released recently. The national survey shows strong support for incorporating camera-based gun detection into existing video surveillance systems. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Beyond Containment: Redefining Cybersecurity and the Digital Campus at Washington College

    In the aftermath of a ransomware attack, Washington College stood at a crossroads — its legacy defined by centuries of academic excellence, but its digital infrastructure revealing the fragile underbelly of modern campus operations. Read Now

  • California School District Protects Campuses With Cloud-Managed Access Control

    Established in 1901 in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Mountain View Los Altos High School District (MVLA) serves 4,400 students across the cities of Mountain View, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills. It houses two award-winning high school campuses commonly ranked in the top 1 percent nationally; it also hosts a continuation high school, an adult education campus, an alternative academy for arts and technology, and a nontraditional high school program held at an innovation center. Read Now

Most   Popular