New details indicated Southridge High School was just one school of many affected by a swatting call that happened across Washington and Montana.
KENNEWICK, Wash. – New details have been released after a false active shooter report happened at a Kennewick High School late Friday morning.
Authorities said a person made a 911 phone call and said there was an active shooter at Southridge High School.
They said the caller even gave a description of the shooter and the gun. The caller even gave authorities information as to where the shooter currently was, according to the police report.
Law enforcement agencies from around the valley responded, including the Benton County and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices, Police departments of Richland, Pasco, West Richland, Prosser and Moxee, the Washington State Patrol and special agents from local FBI offices. Crews from the Kennewick Fire Department and regional fire partners also responded to the scene.
Kennewick officers reported they arrived within five minutes of the 911 call and by that time, the Southridge school resource officer had issued a lockdown for the school, including the surrounding schools of Sage Crest Elementary and Chinook Middle School.
Officers at the scene said they broke into search teams and went into the school to begin a search of the rooms and offices.
Southridge school staff worked with law enforcement to coordinate a staging area for parents and caregivers to come and get information about what was going on.
Authorities said they were able to lift the lockdown in just under two hours and their investigation showed there was not an active shooter and that students and staff were all safe.
The Criminal Investigations Division has started its investigation into what happened. They said it appeared Southridge was one of several schools in Washington and Montana to get a call about an active shooter that turned out to be false. This kind of call is often referred to as “swatting.” A “swatting” is when someone calls police about a serious threat. Police respond to the threat, but it turns out to be a prank call. Swatting calls can be made from anywhere, even out of state or out of the country.
If you have any information about what happened, call 509-628-0333. You can also leave information and remain anonymous by clicking here.
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