Multiple schools across Texas received false reports of mass shootings on Thursday morning causing panic and chaos amongst students and faculty alike. The hoax calls concerning active shooters were received at Collin College, Texas Wesleyan University, Tyler Junior College, Del Mar College Heritage Campus in Corpus Christi, UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, Baylor University, and Galen College of Nursing. The authorities promptly responded to each call, evacuating the campuses and locking down the buildings.
False “Swatting” Calls Received at Several Campuses
Plano Police Department received a false “swatting” call about an active shooter at Collin College’s Plano Campus. Considering the severity of the situation, urgent measures were taken by the authorities as they evacuated the campus and searched for any signs of an ongoing shooting. However, there was no evidence found, and an “all-clear” was given later on.
Similarly, Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth also received a false report of an active shooter on campus. Students and staff were asked to shelter in place due to an emergency situation. Fort Worth Police conducted thorough investigations but found no evidence of any ongoing emergency.
Hoax Calls Disrupt Study Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
The ongoing pandemic has already disrupted academic activities, forcing several institutions to shift their educational programs online. However, these incidents caused more disruptions as law enforcement was forced to take each call seriously. Tyler Junior College even went into a state of lockdown as it was suspected that multiple people had been shot on its premises. Still, after a thorough investigation by the police department found no evidence of gunshots or injuries.
Law enforcement officials have not linked these cases or named any suspects behind the series of hoax calls. The authorities identified these types of hoax calls as “swatting,” which is a practice of making a false emergency call to bring a large number of armed police officers to a specific location. Swatting is not a new practice but is increasingly becoming more common, with hundreds of swatting calls happening annually.
Potential Danger in Hoax Calls
The Plano Police Department has issued a warning for other hoax callers, asking them to think twice before making such false claims as these calls can disrupt not only lives but also commerce, education, and quality of life. The authorities are also working on locating the caller who made the false call at Collin College’s Plano Campus and may face criminal charges. A police investigation is already underway to identify the culprits behind these hoax calls.
According to the FBI, these types of hoax calls are increasingly becoming common and may originate from outside of the country. As a result, the Texas Department of Public Safety is continuously monitoring events and working with local law enforcement to address any potential threats to public safety.
In conclusion, it is essential to recognize the dangers that these hoax calls pose not only in disrupting educational activities but also wasting valuable resources that could have been utilized in other emergencies. The authorities must take necessary precautions and work collaboratively to identify perpetrators behind these hoax calls and bring them to justice.
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