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Vandalism occurred on DU campus after fake emergency call used as distraction, officials say

Campus officials said the person who made the fake call could face criminal charges.

DENVER — A fake emergency call was likely used as a distraction to give others time to vandalize a building on the University of Denver campus, school officials said late Monday.

The damage occurred late Sunday. According to the school, a call was placed to Campus Safety from a blue light phone falsely indicating that someone had been shot. Due to the fake call, Campus Safety and Denver Police responded to another location, different from where the vandalism occurred.

A photo shared by the school shows that red paint was splashed all over a glass door and the walls on either side. It also appears that someone used black spray paint to write on the bricks in front of the door.

That call, according to the school, tied up resources unnecessarily and created a potentially dangerous situation if there had been an actual emergency call at that time with a real emergency. Making a false report could result in criminal charges.

"These actions run counter to DU’s core values, and we have no tolerance for such behavior," the school said in a statement to the campus community.  "We are actively pursuing leads to identify those responsible."

Credit: University of Denver

Anyone with information related to the vandalism, property destruction, or fake emergency call is asked to contact Campus Safety on their non-emergency line at 303-871-2334. Information can also be submitted online.

The online reporting system allows for anonymous reporting.

It's not clear if the vandalism has any connection to recent protests on the campus.

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