More than a dozen MN schools ‘swatted’ with fake reports of shootings, including in St. Paul

Mara H. Gottfried, Pioneer Press
Updated ·2 min read
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More than a dozen schools across Minnesota were targeted with false reports about shootings Wednesday, including in St. Paul, according to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The call about Johnson High School on Arcade Street in St. Paul came at 12:04 p.m. Officers quickly responded as the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center contacted the school to try to verify whether there was a shooting, said Sgt. David McCabe, a police spokesman. The school went into lockdown.

Staff told officers who entered the school that everyone was safe, and officers and staff searched the building to be sure, according to McCabe. No threat or weapon was found.

“Unfortunately, disruptive prank calls such as this have become a national trend,” McCabe said. “States like Texas, Virginia, and California have reported multiple calls of fake active shooter or mass casualty events at schools. This incident at Johnson High School is suspected to be part of that trend and is under investigation by the St. Paul police.”

Among other Minnesota schools that were targeted Wednesday with hoax calls about shootings were Washburn High School in Minneapolis, West High School in Mankato, Lourdes High School in Rochester, Apollo High School in St. Cloud and Cloquet High School.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension noted in a mid-day alert that they were “aware of multiple swatting incidents involving active shooter events or mass casualties at schools across Minnesota. Local law enforcement are responding. No incidents have turned out to be real.”

“Swatting” is a prank call to law enforcement in an attempt to bring a large response.

The BCA’s Minnesota Fusion Center is tracking the reports and keeping local law enforcement updated.

While people should call 911 about an immediate threat, the BCA said students and community members can report tips about threats made against Minnesota schools using the “See It, Say It, Send It” app.

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