SAULT STE. MARIE, MI— The early dismissal of students from Sault Area Public Schools on Friday was due to “swatting.”
That’s according to the Sault Sainte Marie Police Department, which responded around 10:30 a.m. to a threat involving campus. An unidentified male contacted the school, claiming he intended to go to campus armed and carry out a shooting inside and outside the building.
Investigation indicates the incident is consistent with a hoax commonly referred to as swatting, or false reports of serious or violent incidents that are made to prompt a large-scale emergency response. They’re typically aimed at schools and other public institutions.
Investigators say the incident was part of a national swatting effort, with school districts in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, New York, Georgia, California, and Wisconsin receiving similar threats on the same day around the same time.
Officers say there’s no credible threat associated with the call to Sault Area Schools, but, as a precaution, there will be an increased law enforcement presence on school campuses through this week.
