Active shooter hoax at Holly Shelter Middle School leads to charges for juvenile
Authorities have charged a 12-year-old boy for phoning in a false report of an active shooter that led to a heavy police response at Holly Shelter Middle School Wednesday afternoon.
The boy called 911 shortly before 4 p.m. reporting an active shooter on the school grounds, according to a New Hanover Sheriff’s Office news release.
Law enforcement officials cleared the school of any threats and found no evidence of an active shooter but the hoax caused dismissal and bus delays, postponed band and orchestra performances, and had parents frantic.
“We take all reports of active shooters seriously, and this false report caused unnecessary disruption and fear in the community,” New Hanover Sheriff Ed McMahon said in the release.
“We are thankful that there was no actual threat and that no one was harmed, but we are sending a strong message that false reports will not be tolerated. I want to thank all our partnering agencies that came to help us clear the school. All of us working together makes our community safer.”
The charges come less than a week after similar calls led authorities to respond at New Hanover High School, Williston Middle School and the International School at Gregory, which were also found to be false.
Reporter John Orona can be reached at 910-343-2327 or jorona@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Juvenile charged in false active shooter call to Wilmington school
