Monday afternoon, Richland High School in Tarrant County was placed on lockdown following a 911 call reporting a potential threat. But officials soon discovered the call was a fraud.
Officials from the Birdville Independent School District (ISD) started the lockdown at 1:15 p.m. after learning of a potential threat. After arriving on the scene, the North Richland Hills Police Department got right to work conducting an investigation.
Investigators conducted a preliminary check of the school and discovered no real threat. To make sure that the personnel and pupils were safe, a second search was carried out. The call was part of a larger nationwide habit of making fictitious threats, the inquiry found.
“This type of hoax has been occurring nationwide, with individuals placing 911 calls from out of state,” authorities said in a statement. “Falsely reporting a threat to a school is a serious crime.”
The campus was kept on "hold" by Birdville ISD, meaning that no one may enter or leave until the lockdown was removed, even in spite of the hoax. The usual dismissal hour for pupils was declared by the officials.
An update from the North Richland Hills Police Department affirmed that there was no current danger. Currently, investigators are trying to find out where the 911 call originated.
The public was cautioned by law enforcement that filing false complaints can result in criminal penalties, particularly when they target schools. Authorities stressed how serious these hoaxes are, since they jeopardize the security and wellbeing of school populations.
Families were reassured by the district and the police that the campus was safe. During the whole situation, all of the personnel and students were safe.
The police are going to keep looking into who made the fictitious 911 call as part of their continuing operations. There have been no reports of any new disturbances, and everything is still under control.
The incident brings to light the rising worry regarding fictitious threats sent at schools across the country. To keep communities safe, law enforcement and school administrators keep a watchful eye on these circumstances.