Olentangy High School victim of shooting hoax targeting districts across the state
A report of a shooting at Olentangy High School in Delaware County turned out to be a hoax, one of many false calls placed to schools across the state on Tuesday.
The Delaware County Sheriff's office said deputies responded to the high school early Tuesday afternoon after getting a report of a shooting at the building, which is located on Lewis Center Road.
UPDATE as of 1:45 pm: This incident at OHS appears to be a swatting hoax, which mulitple Ohio schools and other states have been victims of. We are still clearing the building to ensure no actual threat exist. @OlentangySD
— Delaware County SO (@DelCoSheriff) March 21, 2023
After searching the school as a precaution, the sheriff's office has determined there was no shooting or active threat to students.
The sheriff's office said schools would be dismissing on their regular schedule on Tuesday.
Schools across Ohio and the nation have received similar reports on Tuesday, including in Clark County, Summit County and Clermont County and Iowa.
Swatting hoaxes occur when a person, typically from a distant location, calls in a report of a shooting or threat at a specific place. These calls generate a large law enforcement response and create panic.
bbruner@dispatch.com
@bethany_bruner
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Olentangy HS victim of shooting hoax targeting districts statewide
