A threatening phone call claiming a person had a bomb and an AK-47 prompted a full lockdown at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Wednesday. Law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the campus and found no threat, concluding the incident was an apparent hoax.
Key Takeaways
- Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School was locked down after a threatening call was made to police.
- The caller claimed to be in a school bathroom with a bomb and an AK-47.
- An extensive police search involving multiple agencies found no evidence of a threat.
- The incident has been classified as a hoax, and an investigation is underway to identify the caller.
Threatening Call Prompts Immediate Police Response
The incident began when the Fall River Police Department received a disturbing phone call. According to officials, the caller stated they were in a state of crisis and were located inside a bathroom at the high school.
The individual made specific threats, claiming to be in possession of both a bomb and an AK-47 rifle. This serious claim triggered an immediate and large-scale response from local and state law enforcement agencies.
School administrators, working with police, immediately placed the campus on lockdown to ensure the safety of all students and staff. The protocol required everyone to remain in secure locations while authorities assessed the situation.
Understanding 'Swatting' and Hoax Calls
Hoax calls, often referred to as "swatting," are criminal acts where a person makes a false report of an emergency to draw a large number of armed police officers to a specific address. These incidents waste valuable resources and can create dangerous, high-stress situations for everyone involved.
Parents and Students Face Anxious Moments
As news of the lockdown spread, worried parents began to gather near the school, awaiting information. The uncertainty of the situation created a tense atmosphere, with many fearing the worst.
Dana Heyes, a mother waiting for her daughter, described the fear her child expressed. "She said please come get me because I am scared and I don't want to be here," Heyes shared. She added that as a parent, her mind immediately went to a worst-case scenario.
"As a parent your mind goes to worst case scenario and it's just disturbing."
Another parent, Jessica Robinson, spoke about the anxiety she felt while rushing to the school. "It's scary times that we're living in, it's unfortunate that the kids can't even go to school and you know get educated, without somebody bringing a gun to school or it's scary," she said. "I'm speeding coming here, my heart was racing."
Inside the School During the Lockdown
Students inside the school were instructed to remain in place and stay quiet. Many were initially unsure if the event was real or a drill. Xavier Gracia, a freshman at Diman, recounted the experience.
"I thought it was a drill, we were sitting in the corner, and they said no one could leave and no one could come in," Gracia said. He noted that students were not given much information at the beginning of the lockdown.
Another student, who chose to remain anonymous, echoed this sentiment. "No one really told us in the beginning about what happened, but I think it was scary, but we treated it like it was a regular lockdown," the student explained.
Extensive Search Finds No Threat
Law enforcement officers from the Fall River Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police conducted a comprehensive search of the entire school campus. The search included all existing buildings and the new construction site on the property.
After a meticulous sweep of the area, police officials confirmed that they found nothing of concern. There was no evidence of an armed individual, a bomb, or any other threat to the school community.
Fall River police officials officially stated that the incident was being treated as a hoax call. Once the search was complete and the area was deemed safe, the lockdown was lifted.
Investigation Launched to Find Caller
With the immediate threat cleared, the focus of the investigation has shifted to identifying the person responsible for the hoax call. The Fall River Police Department has stated that the incident remains under active investigation.
Authorities will use forensic resources to trace the call and identify the individual or individuals involved. Making false threats of this nature is a serious crime with significant legal consequences.
Following the lifting of the lockdown, school officials made the decision to dismiss students early for the day. This allowed students to reunite with their families and decompress after the stressful event.
