Umbrella Mistaken for Gun in USC Swatting Hoax

On the evening of August 24, 2025, the University of South Carolina (USC) was thrown into chaos due to a swatting hoax. Two false calls were made, reporting a shooting at the Thomas Cooper Library, prompting an immediate lockdown of the campus and a full-scale response from law enforcement. However, no evidence of a shooter or gunfire was found and no one had been shot. During the event, a student holding an umbrella was mistakenly identified as the shooter. This misidentification was shared widely on social media, even by Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who described the student to her hundreds of thousands of followers. The student, completely innocent, was caught up in this terrifying event. The incident sparked backlash, with public figures and advocates criticizing Mace for her reckless actions. USC and state agencies are continuing to investigate the origin of the false calls.