The Nebraska State Patrol says they have received information regarding several false reports of school shootings that have been placed to 911 call centers across Nebraska on Thursday. The patrol says there is no credible information that any such school shooting has taken place.
LPS Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman says one school was the target of a phone threat. “We can confirm that Lincoln Police received a phone call this morning that reported an emergency at one of our schools. Lincoln Police working with our staff were able to quickly determine the call was a hoax and part of a national trend aimed at disrupting the learning environment in our schools,” Gausman says.
“We appreciate the continued collaboration and communication with our law enforcement partners. Earlier this week our security department was already aware of the national trend and working with law enforcement on how to best manage ‘swatting’ incidents which allowed us to be prepared for today’s event. It is important we do not further contribute to the disruption created by these bad actors.”
Schools in Omaha, Hastings, Grand Island, Kearney, Columbus and Fremont also reported false shooting calls. The NSP says there have been distinct similarities in the calls received by schools in other states, such as the use of VOIP technology to mask the caller’s identity and location, using or mocking a foreign accent, mispronouncing school or town names and pretending that they are hiding inside the school themselves.
The NSP is assisting local law enforcement agencies and school districts that receive these calls.