A number of “prank” calls about Illinois college shootings have been reported Wednesday – NBC Chicago

Police on Wednesday responded to experiences of shootings at a number of colleges throughout Illinois that authorities mentioned turned out to be false experiences.

Authorities in at the very least 12 communities throughout the state acquired “threats in opposition to colleges,” in line with the Illinois State Police.

“Response personnel haven’t recognized any precise threats from these calls,” ISP mentioned in a press release. “The Illinois State Police Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Heart at the moment has no data relating to credible threats associated to high school security. Regulation enforcement, public security and personal sector safety officers are urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious conduct to native regulation enforcement.”

Courses at Rockford East Excessive Faculty have been cancelled, SATs have been rescheduled and college students have been fired after police gave a “false” taking pictures report, with related calls being reported at different Illinois colleges across the similar time.

“This isn’t the one report that got here into the state as we speak that was a stroke,” Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd mentioned throughout a information convention. “We had two different counties throughout the state that have been additionally victims of swatting calls and people calls have been additionally dropped.”

The calls are believed to be a part of what one county referred to as a “statewide pattern.”

In Freeport, Illinois, District 145 mentioned its highschool was “a part of a nationwide pattern of what we now take into account a prank name.”

“The decision urged there was an actual emergency, when actually it wasn’t. Simply to make certain, the police went via the constructing with a number of emergency companies. We’re grateful for his or her fast response,” the district mentioned in a press release. “We now have additionally been notified by police that different counties acquired the identical prank name this morning. Whereas we’re relieved that there was no precise incident, we don’t take this evenly.”

The false report in Rockford led to a heavy police presence round and inside Rockford East Excessive Faculty, as authorities mentioned they have been taking the decision “very critically”.

Simply earlier than 10 a.m., Rockford East Excessive Faculty principal Jim Parker warned households that “college students and workers are protected and brought care of,” calling it a “best-case state of affairs for what will be the worst day of our lives.” .

College students have been dismissed for the day and courses have been cancelled, with plans to renew on Thursday. Counselors, social employees and psychologists have been additionally made obtainable for individuals who wanted them.

The college famous that juniors have been anticipated to attend SAT Wednesday, which is now postponed to April 25.

“We’re working with the Rockford Police Division as they proceed their investigation,” Parker mentioned. “We’re grateful for the fast response from the Rockford Police Division and the cooperation of our college students and workers. Once more, that is the best-case state of affairs of a horrible scenario.”

Across the similar time, Chicago police at Whitney Younger Excessive Faculty responded to a taking pictures report. The Chicago Public Colleges confirmed that the report was additionally incorrect.

“This morning we have been alerted {that a} name had been made to 911 alleging that there was an energetic gunman on our faculty constructing,” Principal Rickey Harris wrote in a letter to oldsters. “We instantly directed the Chicago Police Division (CPD) to analyze this example and the CPS Workplace of Security and Safety has additionally been notified. CPD responded instantly and confirmed the decision was made as a prank. We now have since been knowledgeable of this prank by cellphone calls which have hit different colleges in different cities throughout the nation as we speak, not simply Whitney Younger. At no level has there been a safety risk to our faculty and all of our college students and workers are protected. At this time’s SAT exams went as deliberate.

Carbondale Police mentioned Carbondale Excessive Faculty was positioned on lockdown over a report of a attainable energetic shooter, however officers “discovered that there have been no issues upon arrival”.

District 165 mentioned the lockdown was lifted at 10:30 a.m. and the constructing “has been evacuated and is protected.” Extra particulars ought to be launched on Wednesday.

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