Juvenile charged in swatting incident at Villanova University

VILLANOVA, Pa. (WPVI) -- Charges have been filed against a juvenile accused of making hoax calls that led to active shooter alerts at Villanova University and other schools in August 2025.

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced on Thursday that the suspect, who is not being identified, has been charged with making swatting calls.

RELATED: Active shooter alert at Villanova was result of 'cruel hoax,' university president says

Investigators say the suspect was a self-identified member of the cybercriminal group "Purgatory."

They say the institutions were chosen at random and the suspect was not affiliated with any of them.

"I want to thank our federal partners for their diligence in bringing these charges. That a juvenile would be subject to federal prosecution reflects the seriousness of these offenses and the distress these actions have caused," said Delaware County DA Tanner Rouse. "I also want to thank the Radnor, Villanova University and Lower Merion Police Departments for their swift response that day. The fear on campus that afternoon was unprecedented and an awful reminder of the horrors that mass shootings have brought upon this country."