A spate of active shooter hoaxes terrorized a dozen college campuses over the past week, including the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

More than 15 law enforcement agencies from across the northwestern part of the state swarmed the Fayetteville campus Monday after a 911 dispatcher fielded a call complete with convincing sound effects, University Police Assistant Chief Matt Mills said.

“On the original 911 call you could hear gunfire – what sounded like gunfire – in the background. That’s what predicated our response,” he said.

Many more calls followed. Mills said 911 dispatchers fielded 38 or 39 calls about a potential campus shooter. Another 308 calls came in on non-emergency lines.

The campus went into lockdown , and students piled chairs and desks against classroom doors.

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