False Alarms of Shots Fired at USC, Pepperdine

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Pepperdine University

Just hours after news broke of a mass shooting in Las Vegas, a false alarm of shots fired on the University of Southern California campus rattled the LA area Monday. USC students were alerted by text message of possible shots fired near Fertitta Hall. The incident was first reported at 12:22 p.m.; students were told to lock down and shelter in place. School officials announced an “all clear” around 45 minutes later. It was later found the rumors were unsubstantiated.

One day later, there were unconfirmed reports of gunshots on the Pepperdine University campus on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 3. In an email to The Malibu Times, Pepperdine confirmed that its Department of Public Safety received a report of a loud noise that was described as a gunshot on campus. The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station was called in to investigate; the report went out at 3:10 p.m. According to Sgt. Johnson, “We were there. We didn’t find any kind of source or any kind of issue or problem over there.”

Pepperdine’s emailed statement said, “Responders believe the sound may have been the result of a large vehicle passing over a nearby speed bump.”