Police find false report of active shooter on Ventura College campus was caused by automated computer alerting system

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – After evacuating the campus and investigating the scene, Ventura Police said the reports of a potential active shooter on the Ventura College campus Tuesday night were false.

Police said they evacuated the college around 6:30 p.m. and restricted access to classrooms while they investigated, but the scene was cleared around 7:41 p.m. and no longer considered it an active incident.

The Ventura County Community College Police Department (VCCCD) said that the false report was caused by an automated computer alerting system, and that college staff, IT and police are investigating how the alert was sent out.

The shelter-in-place order at Ventura College has been lifted. Officers searched the campus and found no active threat. The false report was caused by an automated computer alerting system. College staff, IT, & police are currently investigating how the alert was sent out.

— VCCCD Police Department (@VCCCDPolice) September 7, 2022

The alert was sent to staff at the college about an active shooter on the campus, but police said that the original source of the message was unknown as of 7 p.m.

Police said there were no known suspects, no confirmed shots fired, and no victims or witnesses.

Ventura College has been evacuated & it’s confirmed that this report of an active shooter is unfounded. The scene has been cleared & is no longer considered an active incident. Officers on scene determined no shooting occurred on the VC campus.

— Ventura Police (@Ventura_PD) September 7, 2022

VCCCD said the shelter-in-place order was lifted at the college just before 8 p.m. after officers discovered that the report was false.