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CALABASAS (CNS) - Pepperdine University officials confirmed Thursday that an "erroneous message" was sent to students and staff Wednesday night warning of shots being fired on the school's Calabasas campus, prompting a response from sheriff's deputies, but there was never any gunfire or threat.
According to a statement from the university, the erroneous message was sent at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, but the university "has confirmation that there have been no shots fired."
About 15 minutes after the original warning, a second message was sent by the university, stating the first alert was sent out erroneously, according to the Pepperdine University Graphic campus newspaper.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Los Angeles (County) Sheriff's Department officers responded to the scene and confirmed there is no danger or threat to the university community," according to the university's statement. "We understand this was a concerning message to receive and realize this undoubtedly caused some distress. We sincerely regret this error. All Pepperdine campuses are safe and secure."
It was unclear what precipitated the original alert message.
The mishap occurred just days after a University of North Carolina graduate student fatally shot his faculty adviser on campus, sparking a lockdown that saw students and faculty scrambling to hide and barricade themselves in classrooms amid fears of an active shooter.