Five DeKalb Schools Locked Down Thursday After Bomb Threats

DUNWOODY, GA -- Five DeKalb County schools were locked down Thursday morning after each of them received bomb threats. All five were in the Dunwoody High School cluster, including Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody Elementary, Vanderlyn Elementary, Chesnut Elementary, and Montgomery Elementary in neighboring Brookhaven.

Dunwoody police said at 7:22 am Thursday morning, someone called in a bomb threat to Dunwoody Elementary School. The DeKalb County school district said public safety officers were sent to each school to assist with local police in determining the validity of the threats. None of the threats were found to be credible.

"The health and safety of our students remains DeKalb County School District’s top priority," the system said. "All threats are taken seriously, and all threats are thoroughly investigated."

During the Montgomery lockdown, Brookhaven police were advising motorists to avoid the area around Montgomery on Ashford-Dunwoody Road because of heavy law enforcement presence.

Later Thursday morning, Brookhaven police said no evidence was found at Montgomery Elementary.

Dunwoody police said the threats appear to be "swatting” incidents and they have found no credible threat to any school. "These threats appear to be related to the threats made to Dunwoody/DeKalb County schools several weeks ago," police said in a statement. "Currently, DeKalb County School Police and federal agencies are investigating. We take these threats very serious and the safety of children is our top priority."

911.gov describes "swatting" as "false reporting an emergency to public safety by a person for the intent of getting a (“SWAT team”) response to a location where no emergency exists. The calling party will often report they are involved or nearby as a witness to a home invasion, active shooter, or hostage situation, attempting to muster the largest response possible. Often, the law enforcement response is substantial, with police confronting the unsuspecting victims at gunpoint, only to learn that there is no real emergency."

On Nov. 27, all Decatur city schools were locked down for almost an entire day after police received several threats against multiple schools. Decatur police received reports of a bomb threat against one school and threats of gun violence against two others. No evidence was found.

SEE ALSO: Decatur School Threats Cancel After School Plans, Early Checkouts

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