Wording not preserved
A initial alert message is documented at this point in the sequence, but its exact wording is not preserved in the public record. The public edition displays only confirmed alert text.
UM
Anonymous calls threatening a residence hall shooting determined to be a hoax
AI-generated · every claim is source-linkedConfirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.
On the evening of April 28, 2024, the University of Montana received two anonymous 911 calls threatening a shooting at Aber Hall, a residence hall on campus. The caller claimed gunfire could be heard in the background. UMPD placed the campus in secure mode for nearly two hours while law enforcement searched the building and surrounding area. No evidence of a shooting was found, and UMPD Chief Brad Giffin declared the threat a hoax, consistent with an illegal swatting prank.
- Alerts
- 3
- Response
- —
- Killed
- —
- Injured
- —
~10,000 studentsUM Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how UM says it will use UM Alert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline
Alert Sequence
3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim
Some messages in this sequence are documented (their existence, timing, and channel are sourced) but their exact wording is not preserved in the public record. Those entries appear as placeholders; only confirmed text is displayed.
(University police) in partnership with Missoula law enforcement continue to search the campus but have not found anything or received information to substantiate a threat.
Sent at 10:44 p.m. MDT on April 28, 2024, this update told the campus that a search was underway but nothing had been found
The Missoulian quoted the parenthetical '(University police)' exactly as it appeared in the alert, suggesting the alert used a specific abbreviation that the paper expanded for readers
This update came late in the secure-mode period, before the formal all-clear
Wording not preserved
A all clear message is documented at this point in the sequence, but its exact wording is not preserved in the public record. The public edition displays only confirmed alert text.
Context
Background
The University of Montana in Missoula experienced a tense Sunday evening on April 28, 2024, when two anonymous 911 calls reported an active shooting at Aber Hall, one of the campus residence halls. The caller claimed gunfire could be heard in the background. UMPD immediately placed the campus in secure mode and, along with Missoula law enforcement, conducted a thorough search of Aber Hall and the surrounding campus. No evidence of any shooting or threat was found. UMPD Chief Brad Giffin told the Montana Kaimin student newspaper that he was confident the incident was a hoax, consistent with the illegal practice of swatting, where individuals make false reports of serious crimes to provoke a heavy law enforcement response. The 911 call could not be traced back to identify the caller. The timing of the incident was notable: a Gabriel Iglesias comedy show was wrapping up at the Adams Center, and attendees were informed of the situation as they exited around 10:20 p.m. MDT. This incident occurred during a broader national wave of swatting attacks targeting college campuses in 2024, which tested emergency notification systems across the country.
Analysis
Key Findings
UM used 'secure mode' terminology rather than 'lockdown,' reflecting the university's tiered emergency language
The swatting call included fabricated background gunfire audio, a common tactic in coordinated swatting attacks
A large public event (comedy show at Adams Center) complicated the emergency response by requiring separate notification of attendees
The 911 call could not be traced, highlighting the challenge of holding swatting perpetrators accountable
Outcome
No injuries or evidence of any shooting. Campus secure mode was lifted at approximately 10:55 p.m. MDT on April 28, 2024, nearly two hours after the calls. The 911 call could not be traced. UMPD maintained an increased law enforcement presence overnight.
Provenance
Sources
- Student Paper
- News
- News
Cite this case
Campus Alert Archive. "University of Montana: Anonymous calls threatening a residence hall shooting determined to be a hoax." Incident of April 28, 2024. Added April 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-montana-swatting-2024-04-28/
Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.
Tags
swattinghoaxmontanaactive-shooter-hoaxresidence-halllockdownmissoulasecure-modeHoax
Added April 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion