Campus Alert Archive
Doane

Second Day of Classes, First Swatting Call: Tiny Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, Locked Down by Communications Building Hoax

NEswattingemergency 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 August 19, 2025, at 8:44 AM CDT, Doane University received a report of a possible armed suspect in the restroom of the Communications Building on the Crete campus, the second day of fall classes. Fifteen officers from Crete PD, Saline County Sheriff's Office, and Doane Public Safety responded and issued an all-clear by 9:41 AM.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Doane University
Private Liberal Arts · NE
~2,800 students
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 ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction197 chars
Doane Alert: Lockout/Secure notice. Possible armed suspect reported in the Communications Building on the Crete campus. Remain inside secured buildings. Do not approach the Communications Building.

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

Reconstructed from 1011 NOW and Nebraska.TV coverage; campus security issued a lockout/secure notice immediately after the 8:44 AM report
The call claimed an armed suspect was in the restroom of the Communications Building
Fifteen officers from three agencies responded within minutes
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction180 chars
Doane Alert: All clear. The Communications Building has been searched and cleared. No threat was found. The lockout has been lifted. The incident is believed to be a swatting call.

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

Reconstructed from local media reporting; the all-clear came 57 minutes after the initial report
Crete Police Chief Gary Young noted inconsistencies in the call that led to suspicion it was a swatting call
The incident was one of the earliest in the August 2025 university swatting wave, occurring two days before the Villanova and UTC incidents
FOLLOW-UPTwitter/X
Verified verbatimVerbatim from Doane University's social media post quoted by Nebraska.TV180 chars
We are grateful for the swift response from Crete PD, Saline County Sheriff's office and the cooperation of our students, faculty and staff. Campus safety remains our top priority.
Doane's follow-up social media post thanked responding agencies but stopped short of using the word 'swatting' in the post itself
The post mirrored the institutional pattern of pivoting from emergency directive to gratitude messaging once the all-clear was given
Crete PD and the Saline County Sheriff's Office both received public credit by name
Context

Background

On August 19, 2025, the second day of fall classes at Doane University, a small liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, campus security received a report at 8:44 AM of a possible armed suspect in the restroom of the Communications Building. A lockout/secure notice was immediately issued, and fifteen officers from the Crete Police Department, Saline County Sheriff's Office, and Doane Public Safety converged on the campus. The building was searched and cleared, with an all-clear issued at 9:41 AM. The university's mobile ID system, implemented the prior year, allowed officials to remotely secure buildings within seconds. Crete Police Chief Gary Young noted inconsistencies in the call that led to suspicion it was a swatting incident. The investigation continued in coordination with Nebraska City Police to develop leads. Doane, with an enrollment of about 2,800, is one of the smallest institutions targeted in the August 2025 swatting wave, predating the higher-profile Villanova and UTC incidents by two days. Students described the experience as 'kind of terrifying' and 'nerve-racking.'
Analysis

Key Findings

Doane was one of the earliest targets in the August 2025 university swatting wave, hit on August 19, two days before the Villanova and UTC incidents on August 21
As a small liberal arts college with about 2,800 students, Doane shows the swatting campaign was not limited to large research universities
Crete Police Chief noted inconsistencies in the call, suggesting experienced dispatchers can identify potential hoaxes even without advance warning
Outcome
No armed person was found. The incident was determined to be a swatting call. Crete Police noted inconsistencies in the call. The investigation continued in coordination with Nebraska City Police Department.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    False threat prompts lockdown at Doane University (Nebraska.TV)
    nebraska.tv
  2. News
    Swatting call shakes up Doane University's second day of classes (1011 NOW)
    1011now.com
  3. News
    Swatting incident causes lockdown on Doane campus (KLKN TV)
    klkntv.com
  4. News
    Report of armed suspect at Doane determined to be swatting call (Nebraska Public Media)
    nebraskapublicmedia.org
Tags
swattingactive-shooter-hoaxnebraskasmall-collegecommunications-buildingprivate-liberal-artsearly-waveHoax
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion