University of South Carolina issues all-clear after unconfirmed reports of active shooter on campus

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina has given the all-clear after issuing an alert Sunday about a possible active shooter near a library on the main Columbia campus, just days after false reports of active shooters at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga led to panic and temporary lockdowns as they kicked off their fall semesters.

South Carolina students were told to shelter in place Sunday while police investigated an unconfirmed report of an active shooter near the library. Officials later said there was no evidence of a shooter, and there were no reports of any shots being fired.

University spokesperson Jeff Stensland said in a statement that the original alert “was sent out of an abundance of caution” and that law enforcement was clearin