{
  "id": "2020-09-25-syracuse-university-false-weapon-threat-report-in-oakwood-cemetery-con",
  "slug": "syracuse-university-false-weapon-threat-report-in-oakwood-cemetery-con-2020-09-25",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Syracuse University",
    "shortName": "Syracuse",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Orange Alert / DPS Notice",
    "enrollment": 22000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2020-09-25",
    "type": "false-report",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "headline": "False weapon threat report in Oakwood Cemetery confirmed",
    "headlinePublic": "False weapon threat report in Oakwood Cemetery confirmed",
    "summary": "Syracuse University DPS [published a public safety notice](https://dps.syr.edu/2020/09/25/public-safety-update-alleged-incident-determined-to-be-false-report/). Full text is preserved from the official DPS page.",
    "outcome": "See official DPS notice for investigation status and safety guidance.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "On Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at approximately 12:53 a.m., a 911 caller reported being threatened by a man with a weapon in Oakwood Cemetery. The Syracuse Police Department (SPD) requested the assistance of the Department of Public Safety to secure the perimeter while a search was conducted. Upon further investigation, SPD determined the 911 caller falsely reported the allegations, concluding that no incident ever actually occurred.\n\nThis public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/09/25/public-safety-update-alleged-incident-determined-to-be-false-report/",
      "sourceDescription": "Syracuse University Department of Public Safety notice",
      "annotations": [
        "Transcribed from official dps.syr.edu public safety notice HTML."
      ],
      "characterCount": 532,
      "confidence": "high",
      "timestampApprox": "DPS notice dated 2020-09-25"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Syracuse University Department of Public Safety public safety notice series under dps.syr.edu.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official DPS public safety notice preserves campus community warning text."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "Public Safety Update: Alleged Incident Determined to be False Report",
      "url": "https://dps.syr.edu/2020/09/25/public-safety-update-alleged-incident-determined-to-be-false-report/",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-25"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "syracuse",
    "dps",
    "public-safety-notice",
    "false-report"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-25",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-25",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}