So, That's Why the University of South Carolina Had an Active Shooter Alert

Let’s get the easy part out of the way here: it’s good news that no one was killed or severely injured. It’s even better that there was no shooter to begin with. But whoever called the police on a guy who was walking around the University of South Carolina with an umbrella should be ashamed of themselves. Yes, better safe than sorry is a good virtue to live by, but c’mon, guys. It’s evident from the footage that it’s not a gun. There were minor injuries sustained during the evacuation procedures. An alert was sent out around 6:30 PM EST yesterday, with the all clear being issued 90 minutes later (via Fox News):

🚨 UPDATE: Image has just been released of the guy many accused of being the SH00TER at University of South Carolina Columbia tonight...

...but it was an umbrella.

Guy was just strolling around campus with an umbrella.

NO evidence there was even a threat.

The hoaxes need to… pic.twitter.com/W6WM4nGpEB
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 25, 2025

We need common sense umbrella laws https://t.co/OaRsOBYqNb pic.twitter.com/HKhsScGUTo
— Prison Mitch (@MidnightMitch) August 24, 2025

🚨 YET ANOTHER ACTIVE SH00TER HOAX?

University of South Carolina - Columbia put out an alert saying there was an active shooter reported in the library.

Now they’re saying there is “NO EVIDENCE” of a shooter

There’s just this video of a man carrying an object.

Why does this… pic.twitter.com/JrwxkHRDUt
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 24, 2025

🚨 BREAKING: Authorities are saying there is NO EVIDENCE of an ACTIVE SH00TER at University of South Carolina - Columbia...and the video circulating of the 'suspect' is a dude carrying some object that's clearly not a firearm.

Who called this in??pic.twitter.com/aTyqjtXPzH
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 24, 2025

The University of South Carolina issued an "all clear" after the school warned of reports of an active shooter on campus Sunday evening.
Campus officials added there was no ongoing emergency.
Earlier in the evening, the school ordered students and staff on its Columbia campus to shelter in place, saying an active shooter had been reported near the Thomas Cooper Library.
[…]
An alert went out just after 6:30 p.m. ET, warning people to avoid the area and to evacuate or barricade if necessary.
Officials later said there was no evidence of an active shooter.
[…]
Video circulated online of a person walking toward a campus building while carrying a black object which some said appeared to be a long rifle.
Scott Prill, the Deputy Chief of Police for the University of South Carolina, dispelled the rumor, saying the person was carrying an umbrella.
The all clear was given after 8 p.m. on Sunday.