Active-shooter threats were made against schools across New Hampshire on Thursday, but the reports are believed to be hoaxes, according to the New Hampshire Department of Safety.Beginning just before 10 a.m., threats were made to multiple schools in several New Hampshire communities, including Concord, Claremont, Dover, Franklin, Laconia, Lebanon, Littleton and Portsmouth. “At this time, these reports are believed to be a hoax,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement.”However, all threats will be taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined. All state agencies are coordinating in this response, and we remain on top of this situation. We would like to thank all local partners for their diligence in responding across the state.”Law enforcement sources tell News 9 Investigates that it appears that the school shooting hoax calls were similar in nature and came from an out-of-state number. Sources told News 9 Investigates that in many of the calls, the caller indicated that they were a school employee calling to report an active shooter and provided a specific number of people who were shot. In some instances, the caller even gave a specific classroom number where the alleged shooting took place.New Hampshire Homeland Security & Emergency Management Director Robert Buxton told WMUR that the statewide response Thursday will be reviewed.”We’ll absolutely be reviewing this response. Today, you saw a great team effort from a bunch 0f state agencies and local law enforcement to make sure that safety was raised across the state,” Buxton said.>> In the video player above, see an interview with Robert BuxtonState Department of Education officials sent a note addressing the hoax calls to school administrators in cities and towns across the state. “We know that safety is the top priority at all New Hampshire schools. With that in mind, we are asking you and your administrators to do what is in the best interest of your schools, but also understand that everything is being done by the New Hampshire Information Analysis Center to keep us updated,” the notice from the Department of Education read. “At this time, we do not wish to create additional disruptions to our school facilities, knowing that these reports are believed to be a hoax.”POLICE QUICKLY RESPOND TO THREAT IN CONCORD Concord police believe the first threat call in the state was made against St. John’s Regional School.Police in the capital city said they were on the scene two minutes after getting a call from someone who claimed they were inside the school and there was an active shooting and students has been shot.When police arrived, the school’s doors were locked and officers initially assumed the school was in lockdown. Police made their way inside and found no students or staff because they were actually in the church on school grounds for Mass day.Superintendent Dave Thibault said the students and staff were unaware there was a threat even made until he was notified of the heavy police presence at the school.Students were reunified with their parents. One parent told WMUR her son was traumatized by the experience but she was grateful that everyone was OK.St. John’s and all public schools in Concord were placed into a “soft lockdown” as a result of the threat, but the lockdowns were lifted after police conducted sweeps and investigators determined the calls were the result of a hoax.Superintendent Thibault said officials will provide counselors to students who need them.STUDENTS IN PORTSMOUTH EXPRESS SHOCK Parents rushed to Portsmouth High School after a hoax threat was made. Some were able to pick up their children, who were given the option of going home after the incident.Some parents told WMUR they saw over a dozen officers at one point and were relieved at the swift response.Students said there was a bit of disbelief, as many of them were aware of the hoax just over the border in Maine last month. “We had a speaker announcement and they were like, ‘We’re gonna go in lockdown.’ So we just all closed the door, locked it, barricaded it and then just sat there,” Felicia McCausland, a Portsmouth High School student, said.Students said some classmates were laughing, but most took it very seriously, with many texting parents. “We had a lot of people texting their parents and freaking out,” Isabella Evilsizer, a Portsmouth High School student, said. “I know people who have really bad anxiety, and I can’t even imagine.”RESPONSES IN OTHER COMMUNITIESDover High School and Dover Middle School also went into lockdown. In a letter to the school community, superintendent William Harbron said police determined a call that said there was a possible intruder at the high school was a hoax. Harbron added that all students are safe. In a separate note sent later Thursday morning, Harbron said police completed their sweep of the high school and grounds and students were allowed to return to their normal schedule. He added that any parent or guardian could pick up their high school student if they wished to do so.Franklin High School, meanwhile, was closed for the rest of the day after officials cleared it when a threat call came in there. Other city schools that were in lockdown during the incident were later back in operation.In Claremont, a report of an active shooter at Stevens High School was made, officials said. The report came in just after school officials learned there were other hoax calls in the state, but they “treated this call as legitimate when it came in.”The lockdown at Stevens High School was lifted after police completed a “thorough” search of the building, officials said. Officials added that all students and staff members there are safe and back to their regular duties.Police in Littleton said a threat was called into Littleton High School, but officers had already been aware of similar threats made at other Granite State Schools. “We treated this call as legitimate when it came in, and immediately responded to the area where the attack was said to be occurring,” police wrote in a Facebook post. ” Littleton Police Officers conducted a thorough search of the premises. In conjunction with the school administration, we were confident that no such threat existed and secure campus was lifted. All staff and students are safe and are back to their regular duties.”A hoax call was also reported at Lebanon Middle School, where police responded and found no “unusual activity or threat.” Police said they will have an increased presence at all schools in the city to ensure safety and security.State officials said other jurisdictions across the country “also reported receiving hoax calls.”
Active-shooter threats were made against schools across New Hampshire on Thursday, but the reports are believed to be hoaxes, according to the New Hampshire Department of Safety.
Beginning just before 10 a.m., threats were made to multiple schools in several New Hampshire communities, including Concord, Claremont, Dover, Franklin, Laconia, Lebanon, Littleton and Portsmouth.
“At this time, these reports are believed to be a hoax,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement.
“However, all threats will be taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined. All state agencies are coordinating in this response, and we remain on top of this situation. We would like to thank all local partners for their diligence in responding across the state.”
Law enforcement sources tell News 9 Investigates that it appears that the school shooting hoax calls were similar in nature and came from an out-of-state number.
Sources told News 9 Investigates that in many of the calls, the caller indicated that they were a school employee calling to report an active shooter and provided a specific number of people who were shot. In some instances, the caller even gave a specific classroom number where the alleged shooting took place.
New Hampshire Homeland Security & Emergency Management Director Robert Buxton told WMUR that the statewide response Thursday will be reviewed.
“We’ll absolutely be reviewing this response. Today, you saw a great team effort from a bunch 0f state agencies and local law enforcement to make sure that safety was raised across the state,” Buxton said.
>> In the video player above, see an interview with Robert Buxton
State Department of Education officials sent a note addressing the hoax calls to school administrators in cities and towns across the state.
“We know that safety is the top priority at all New Hampshire schools. With that in mind, we are asking you and your administrators to do what is in the best interest of your schools, but also understand that everything is being done by the New Hampshire Information Analysis Center to keep us updated,” the notice from the Department of Education read. “At this time, we do not wish to create additional disruptions to our school facilities, knowing that these reports are believed to be a hoax.”
POLICE QUICKLY RESPOND TO THREAT IN CONCORD
Concord police believe the first threat call in the state was made against St. John’s Regional School.
Police in the capital city said they were on the scene two minutes after getting a call from someone who claimed they were inside the school and there was an active shooting and students has been shot.
When police arrived, the school’s doors were locked and officers initially assumed the school was in lockdown. Police made their way inside and found no students or staff because they were actually in the church on school grounds for Mass day.
Superintendent Dave Thibault said the students and staff were unaware there was a threat even made until he was notified of the heavy police presence at the school.
Students were reunified with their parents. One parent told WMUR her son was traumatized by the experience but she was grateful that everyone was OK.
St. John’s and all public schools in Concord were placed into a “soft lockdown” as a result of the threat, but the lockdowns were lifted after police conducted sweeps and investigators determined the calls were the result of a hoax.
Superintendent Thibault said officials will provide counselors to students who need them.
STUDENTS IN PORTSMOUTH EXPRESS SHOCK
Parents rushed to Portsmouth High School after a hoax threat was made. Some were able to pick up their children, who were given the option of going home after the incident.
Some parents told WMUR they saw over a dozen officers at one point and were relieved at the swift response.
Students said there was a bit of disbelief, as many of them were aware of the hoax just over the border in Maine last month.
“We had a speaker announcement and they were like, ‘We’re gonna go in lockdown.’ So we just all closed the door, locked it, barricaded it and then just sat there,” Felicia McCausland, a Portsmouth High School student, said.
Students said some classmates were laughing, but most took it very seriously, with many texting parents.
“We had a lot of people texting their parents and freaking out,” Isabella Evilsizer, a Portsmouth High School student, said. “I know people who have really bad anxiety, and I can’t even imagine.”
RESPONSES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES
Dover High School and Dover Middle School also went into lockdown. In a letter to the school community, superintendent William Harbron said police determined a call that said there was a possible intruder at the high school was a hoax. Harbron added that all students are safe.
In a separate note sent later Thursday morning, Harbron said police completed their sweep of the high school and grounds and students were allowed to return to their normal schedule. He added that any parent or guardian could pick up their high school student if they wished to do so.
Franklin High School, meanwhile, was closed for the rest of the day after officials cleared it when a threat call came in there. Other city schools that were in lockdown during the incident were later back in operation.
In Claremont, a report of an active shooter at Stevens High School was made, officials said. The report came in just after school officials learned there were other hoax calls in the state, but they “treated this call as legitimate when it came in.”
The lockdown at Stevens High School was lifted after police completed a “thorough” search of the building, officials said. Officials added that all students and staff members there are safe and back to their regular duties.
Police in Littleton said a threat was called into Littleton High School, but officers had already been aware of similar threats made at other Granite State Schools.
“We treated this call as legitimate when it came in, and immediately responded to the area where the attack was said to be occurring,” police wrote in a Facebook post. ” Littleton Police Officers conducted a thorough search of the premises. In conjunction with the school administration, we were confident that no such threat existed and secure campus was lifted. All staff and students are safe and are back to their regular duties.”
A hoax call was also reported at Lebanon Middle School, where police responded and found no “unusual activity or threat.” Police said they will have an increased presence at all schools in the city to ensure safety and security.
State officials said other jurisdictions across the country “also reported receiving hoax calls.”