Granite City High one of 21 Illinois schools to receive hoax threat calls Wednesday
The same day Granite City High School received a false threat leading to a swarm of police cars and ambulances responding, other Illinois schools also had fake threats.
Rockford East High School, Dixon and Freeport high schools all received threats of gun violence Wednesday, WIFR reports, and the threats were deemed false.
“Due to the caller’s response to the questions, it was very clear that this caller was attempting a ‘swatting’ situation at Dixon High School,” according to the Dixon Police Department. https://t.co/N6ouKr4woJ
— Sauk Valley Media - Shaw Local (@saukvalley) April 12, 2023
The Mount Vernon Police Department said in a Facebook post Wednesday morning the department received a call about a “possible armed person” at Mt. Vernon High School. The police department reported later the school is secure and the call was a “prank.”
Whitney Young High School officials received a 911 call Wednesday morning saying an active shooter was in the building, ABC 7 reported. Chicago police officers confirmed it was a prank call.
The Carbondale Police Department reported a hoax threat to Carbondale High School Wednesday, as well.
Update: Carbondale PD responded to a hoax call regarding an active shooter at CCHS at 9:59 a.m. The School Resource Officer was present, and additional officers arrived within two minutes, but no threats were discovered. Press Release: https://t.co/pGC3dKHiXx https://t.co/mFzYjGyv8c
— Carbondale Police (@CarbondalePD) April 12, 2023
Illinois State Police reported in a press release Wednesday afternoon a total of 21 schools in 19 counties across the state received false threats as of 3 p.m. Here’s where hoax calls were made:
Granite City
Collinsville
Centralia
Mount Vernon
Carbondale
Murphysboro
Marion
Champaign
Chicago
Aurora
Vienna
Dixon
Decatur
Bloomington
Jacksonville
Peoria
Pittsfield
Eldorado
Springfield
Freeport
Rockford
“Responders have not located any actual threats as a result of these calls,” the Illinois State Police press release read. “The ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center currently has no information concerning credible threats related to school safety. Law enforcement, public safety, and private sector security officials are encouraged to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior to local police agencies.”
Illinois is not the only state to receive similar false threats. NPR reported in October 182 schools in 28 states received false threat calls between Sept. 13 and Oct. 21.
Making hoax threats through email, text or social media is a federal crime.
This story may be updated.
Live updates: No credible threat to Granite City school, district spokesman reports
