GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Illinois school districts appear to be the latest victims of "swatting."
Multiple Metro East schools reported receiving threats Wednesday that led to lockdowns, evacuations and growing concerns among students and their parents.
Swatting, according to the Associated Press, is when false threats are made with the goal of getting authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to respond to a location. Hundreds of cases are reported each year.
According to Illinois State Police, authorities in at least 19 communities received threats directed toward schools Wednesday, including threats in Collinsville and Granite City. No actual threats were located as a result of these calls.
The threats to Illinois schools came just two days after the mass shooting at a bank left five dead and several others injured in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
The Granite City Police Department was alerted Wednesday morning about a possible threat to Granite City High School. GCSD9 Superintendent Stephanie Cann said in an email to parents Wednesday morning that police took quick action and arrived at the school almost immediately after the threat was made. All students and staff members at the high school and Coolidge Junior High were determined to be safe.
In another email at 11 a.m. to district parents, Cann announced parents could pick up their students from the high school by forming a line at Exit 1, remaining in their car and giving a staff member the name of their student to have them dismissed. Bus riders and all remaining students were scheduled to be released at noon.
Cann provided a statement Wednesday afternoon, which reads:
Dear GCSD9 Families,
As communicated earlier today, the Granite City Police Department was alerted to a possible threat at Granite City High School. GCPD responded, swept the complex, and found the threat to be non-credible. At no time were any students or staff in danger. There are no words to describe the appreciation we have for our local first responders, as well as responders from across the area. Their response demonstrated how seriously the district and our partners take the safety of our students and staff. It is comforting to know how dedicated these men and women are to the protection and service of our community. This afternoon we were informed that the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) received hoax active shooter calls at seven Illinois schools this morning. It is possible these are linked to similar threats in IL and communities around the U.S. While the STIC currently has no information concerning credible threats related to school safety, they advise law enforcement, public safety, and private sector security officials to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior to local police agencies. I know that I have repeatedly said that the safety of our students and staff is a priority for the district; our actions today are a reflection of this commitment.
The Centralia Police Department confirmed on Facebook that it received a "prank call" about an active shooter at Centralia High School. No threat was located Wednesday after the school was locked down and completely searched. The department also confirmed that several other schools nearby received the same call.
All Carbondale Elementary School District schools were placed under lockdown at about 10 a.m. Wednesday following the false report of a threat, according to a post from the district on Facebook. The lockdown was lifted before 11 a.m. when police gave the "all clear" signal. Increased police presence was planned throughout the district for the rest of the day as a precaution.
Police in Rockford determined reports Wednesday morning of a shooting at East High School to be false, according to a tweet from the department. All students were scheduled to be released early and return to class on Thursday, according to a post on the Rockford Public Schools Facebook page.
The Freeport School District said on its website that it was also a victim of what was believed to be a nationwide trend of prank calls Wednesday. Police walked through the building as a precaution. While there was no real threat, the district said it was not taking the threat lightly.
The Illinois State Police Department provided the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
As for 3 p.m. today, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is reporting local law enforcement in 19 counties, totaling 21 calls, received threats directed towards schools today. Responders have not located any actual threats as a result of these calls. The ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center currently has no information concerning credible threats related to school safety. Law enforcement, public safety, and private sector security officials are encouraged to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior to local police agencies.
Communities in Illinois, and across the country, are experiencing what is referred to as swatting – dangerous and illegal fake calls about an active shooter situation, typically at a school. While state and national intelligence agencies have seen a pattern of these fake calls, each call is taken seriously.
Counties in Illinois that have reported calls today include:
- City County
- Champaign Champaign County
- Chicago Cook County
- Aurora DuPage County
- Carbondale Jackson County
- Murphysboro Jackson County
- Mount Vernon Jefferson County
- Vienna Johnson County
- Dixon Lee County
- Decatur Macon County
- Granite City Madison County
- Collinsville Madison County
- Centralia Marion County
- Bloomington McLean County
- Jacksonville Morgan County
- Peoria Peoria County
- Pittsfield Pike County
- Eldorado Saline County
- Springfield Sangamon County
- Freeport Stephenson County
- Marion Williamson County
- Rockford Winnebago County
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