Campus Alert Archive
UM

Two Anonymous Calls, Gunfire on the Line: UM Locks Down for a Swatting Hoax Targeting Aber Hall

MTswattingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed 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
—
Institution
University of Montana
Public R1 · MT
~10,000 studentsUM Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction237 chars
UM Alert: UMPD is responding to a report of a shooting threat at Aber Hall. Campus is in secure mode. Avoid the area. Seek shelter in a secure location. Lock doors, stay away from windows. Do not leave your building until further notice.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Montana Kaimin and Missoulian reporting on the alert content
The campus used 'secure mode' rather than 'lockdown' terminology, consistent with UM's tiered alert system
The alert was sent campus-wide by email; attendees at a Gabriel Iglesias comedy show in the Adams Center were notified separately when the show ended around 10:20 p.m.
UPDATEEmail
Verified verbatimMissoulian quoting the 10:44 p.m. campus-wide UM Alert verbatim172 chars
(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 as the lockdown approached the two-hour mark, before the formal all-clear
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction355 chars
UM Alert Update: The threat to Aber Hall has not been substantiated. UMPD and Missoula law enforcement have searched the area and found no evidence of a shooting or any incident. Campus is returning to normal operations. An increased law enforcement presence will continue on campus. Remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to UMPD at 406-243-4000.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Missoulian and KPAX coverage of the all-clear announcement
The lockdown lasted approximately 85 minutes from the initial 911 call to the all-clear
UMPD Chief Brad Giffin later told media he was confident the threat was a swatting hoax
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. 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 lockdown lifted at approximately 10:25 p.m. The 911 call could not be traced. UMPD maintained an increased law enforcement presence overnight.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    UM lifts active shooter lockdown, UMPD chief is confident threat is 'a hoax' (Montana Kaimin)
    montanakaimin.com
  2. News
    Campus operations return to normal following UM shooting threat (Missoulian)
    missoulian.com
  3. News
    Heavy police presence Sunday at University of Montana following threats (KPAX)
    kpax.com
Tags
swattinghoaxmontanaactive-shooter-hoaxresidence-halllockdownmissoulasecure-modeHoax
Added April 2026Updated April 2026Via ingestion