Campus Alert Archive
Harvard

Held at Gunpoint in Their Own Suite: Four Black Harvard Seniors Wake to HUPD Long Guns at Leverett House

MAswattingadvisorymedium 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 April 3, 2023, four Black Harvard seniors — Jazmin Dunlap, Alexandra Rene, David Madzivanyika, and Jarah Cotton — were ordered out of their Leverett House suite at gunpoint by HUPD officers responding to a swatting hoax. The caller falsely claimed to be a former student who had taken a hostage and was armed. The incident sparked a letter signed by 45 Black student organizations demanding institutional reform.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Harvard University
Private R1 · MA
~23,000 studentsMessageMe
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

FOLLOW-UPEmail
Verified verbatimEmail from Leverett House deans to residents at 10:20 AM EDT, quoted in The Harvard Crimson165 chars
The responding team arrived within minutes and was able to quickly clear the scene. HUPD confirms that there is no active or immediate threat to our House community.
This message was sent only AFTER the raid had concluded — Harvard issued NO real-time emergency alert during the active incident
The deans' message did not mention that armed officers had pointed long guns at four Black students in their suite
The lack of detail in the dean's email became a flashpoint for student criticism of Harvard's communication
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Verified verbatimHUPD Chief Victor Clay's first public statement on the swatting attack, quoted in The Harvard Crimson439 chars
HUPD received three calls within an hour from a caller who identified himself as male and claimed to be a Harvard student who was kicked out this semester. The caller claimed to have taken a woman hostage in the students' suite and had unsuccessfully attempted to kill her. In the third call, the caller indicated that he was armed and threatened to shoot law enforcement who entered the room and then to leave the room and start shooting.
HUPD Chief Victor Clay's first public statement came three days after the incident
The statement attempted to justify the armed response by detailing the specificity and escalating nature of the three hoax calls
Critics noted that the explanation did not address why HUPD did not first identify the residents through housing records before deploying long guns
Context

Background

In the early morning hours of April 3, 2023, four Black Harvard College seniors — Jarah Cotton, Jazmin Dunlap, David Madzivanyika, and Alexandra René — awoke to banging on their Leverett House suite door. Within seconds, Harvard University Police Department officers ordered them into the hallway at gunpoint, with at least five armed officers and what students described as long guns. HUPD had received three escalating swatting calls within an hour from a caller claiming to be a former Harvard student who had taken a hostage and was armed. The caller specifically named the suite. After clearing the room, officers found no hostage and no weapon. Rather than issuing a real-time emergency alert, Harvard waited until the raid was over before sending Leverett residents a brief email at 10:20 AM. The incident sparked outrage among Black students and alumni: 45 Black student organizations signed an open letter demanding HUPD reform, and the Harvard Black Alumni Society issued a public condemnation. President Lawrence Bacow met with Black student leaders in response. HUPD Chief Victor Clay later said he '100% backed' student demands for reform. The incident became a national reference point for how swatting attacks disproportionately endanger students of color who fit a profile police treat as more threatening.
Analysis

Key Findings

Four Black Harvard seniors were held at gunpoint in their own suite by HUPD responding to a swatting hoax
Harvard issued no real-time emergency alert during the active raid; the only campus communication came AFTER the incident concluded
The Leverett House dean's email did not mention that armed officers had pointed long guns at students
45 Black student organizations signed an open letter demanding HUPD reforms in response
The incident became a national reference point for how swatting disproportionately endangers students of color
HUPD Chief Victor Clay publicly endorsed student reform demands six weeks after the incident
Outcome
No injuries occurred but four Black students were traumatized after being held at gunpoint in their own suite. HUPD confirmed the swatting hoax and engaged the FBI. The Harvard Black Alumni Society and 45 Black student organizations demanded changes to HUPD protocol. President Bacow met with Black student leaders.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    Four Harvard Students Held at Gunpoint by Campus Police in 'Swatting' Attack (Harvard Crimson)
    thecrimson.com
  2. Student Paper
    Harvard Police Chief Makes First Public Statement on 'Swatting' Attack (Harvard Crimson)
    thecrimson.com
  3. News
    'They had guns pointed at us': Students recall fear, confusion as Harvard police responded (Boston Globe)
    bostonglobe.com
  4. News
    Harvard Black Alumni Society outraged at swatting incident (Boston.com)
    boston.com
  5. Student Paper
    Dozens of Black Harvard Groups Demand University Action After Leverett Swatting (Harvard Crimson)
    thecrimson.com
  6. Student Paper
    Harvard Police Chief '100%' Backs Student and Alumni Demands After Leverett Swatting (Harvard Crimson)
    thecrimson.com
Tags
swattingharvardleverett-housemassachusettsracial-targetinghupdapril-2023-swatting-wavelong-gunsno-real-time-alertstudent-protestfbi-investigationHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion