Schools Across Ohio Targeted In Hoax Active Shooter Calls

OHIO — Numerous emergency calls reporting active school shooters Friday across Ohio appear to be the latest in a series of mass swatting incidents plaguing communities nationwide.

Swatting is the act of falsely reporting an emergency to draw a major police response, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Schools targeted Friday included Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Belmont High School in Dayton, Scott High School in Toledo and Licking Valley Schools in Newark, authorities said.

“Issuing a threat to schools, events, and other public buildings — even over social media, via text message, or through email — is a federal crime,” the FBI’s Cleveland office tweeted Friday. “Those who post or send these threats can receive up to five years in federal prison, or face state or local charges.”

Catholic Central High School in Springfield was also targeted Friday with a false shooter report, as were schools in Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Chillicothe, Columbiana, Youngstown and Canfield, WDTN reported.

Minnesota schools received no fewer than 14 swattings Wednesday and Louisiana schools had at least 13 on Thursday, according to WBNS, which noted similar incidents have occurred so far this school year in Colorado, Arkansas, California, Florida, Missouri, Texas and Virginia.