Heavy Police Response at USF Tampa After Reports of Shots Fired at Library
TAMPA, Fla. — A heavy police presence swept across the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus Friday afternoon after reports of shots fired near the USF Library prompted an immediate emergency response.
Campus officials confirmed that multiple law enforcement agencies, including the USF Police Department and Tampa Police, rushed to the scene just after 1:30 p.m. Students and staff inside the library and nearby academic buildings were instructed to shelter in place as officers secured the area and searched for any potential threat.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud noises that sounded like gunshots, which quickly led to confusion and concern across the busy campus. Within minutes, alerts were sent out through the university’s emergency notification system urging students, faculty, and visitors to remain indoors and avoid the area surrounding the library.
Dozens of patrol cars, marked and unmarked, converged on campus as heavily armed officers entered the library and conducted a floor-to-floor sweep. Tactical teams were seen canvassing the building, while others set up a perimeter to keep bystanders at a safe distance. Helicopters hovered overhead, underscoring the seriousness of the response.
By late afternoon, authorities said no injuries had been reported, but they emphasized that the investigation was still ongoing. Detectives were working to determine whether actual gunfire had occurred or if the incident may have stemmed from another source, such as a false alarm or misinterpreted noises.
The tense situation left many students shaken. “We were studying when suddenly everyone’s phone went off with the alert,” said one USF student. “We barricaded the doors and waited quietly, just hoping it was a false alarm. It was really scary not knowing what was happening.”
University officials later released a statement assuring the campus community that safety remains their highest priority. Counseling resources were also made available for students and staff affected by the incident.
The USF Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the library to come forward with information. Authorities stressed that, out of an abundance of caution, the investigation would continue until all possible leads were exhausted.
As of Friday evening, campus operations had returned to normal, but the library area remained under heightened security as police wrapped up their search.
