WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia State Police have addressed the widespread fraudulent reporting of school shooting situations throughout the state on Wednesday.
The statement came late Wednesday afternoon with the acknowledgment of the initial reports received which pertained to South Charleston High School in Kanawha County and Huntington High School in Cabell County.
“On Wednesday, December 7th, 2022, at approximately 0900 hours the West Virginia State Police was made aware of three ‘Swatting’ calls that were made in the early morning hours,” read the statement.
”A male subject called the Kanawha County Emergency Operations Center (Kanawha Metro 911) and reported the presence of an active shooter and several victims within the South Charleston High School. Additionally, the male subject called the Cabell County Emergency Operations Center (Cabell 911) and reported similar information at Huntington High School.”
“The subject also placed a similar call to Charleston Area Medical Center and advised CAMC to accept patients involved within or related to this incident. These calls resulted in a full response from numerous agencies and first responders.”
The release goes on to detail the additional reports received throughout the day which pointed to Morgantown High School, Fairmont High School, Elkins High School, and a number of other educational institutions throughout West Virginia.
“Additionally, information is currently being received which indicates that Morgantown High School and Fairmont High School and other schools around the state have also been targeted,” say the WVSP.
“The West Virginia State Police is currently working with several agencies involved with this investigation, including but not limited to, the FBI and the South Charleston Police Department, to determine the threat level.”
Furthermore, the department emphasizes that no injuries have been confirmed as a result of the purported incidents and encourages those who become privy to future threats of this sort contact authorities immediately.
“No information has been received at this time that confirms that any person has been physically injured or harmed as a result of this incident.”
“The public or any institution that receives any similar information is urged to contact law enforcement immediately at 1-800 Call FBI or any local law enforcement number.”
LOOTPRESS will continue to provide updates on this situation as information becomes available.
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ELKINS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Recently disclosed information indicates that the fraudulent shooter calls impacting schools across the state Wednesday could have come from outside the country.
According to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Elkins High School was one of the schools to receive fraudulent reports of a school shooter.
Authorities with the department indicate that the threats are not credible and that there is no discernible threat to students or staff.
“There has been a wave of spoof calls all across the state of active shooter calls to schools, colleges and hospitals,” read the statement.
“THIS IS NOT A CREDIBLE THREAT! Elkins High School is one of the schools called this morning.”
Notably, the release also indicated that the origins of the calls could in fact traced to an individual outside the country altogether.
“Supposedly the caller is in Kenya,” the statement continues.
“Our Deputies are monitoring the situation and are ready if anything were to happen in Randolph County. Your children are safe.”
LOOTPRESS will continue to provide updates on this situation as information becomes available.
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UPDATE: MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Yet another fraudulent report of a West Virginia School shooter has come to light Wednesday as similar reports continue to come to light as the morning progresses.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department reports that mere minutes ago a call was received about an active school shooter in the local area.
Consistent with the pattern which has emerged, this call is reported to have been made from out of state, and the claims are said to be unfounded.
”A few minutes ago, Law enforcement agencies received a call about an active shooter at local schools,” said the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department.
”The call was later discovered to have originated from out of state. Officers are on scene and there is no evidence of a shooting or shooter at the school.”
Superintendent of Raleigh County Schools David Price addressed families of students at 11:15 AM Wednesday regarding the threats and reiterating the priority of the safety of students and staff.
“There have been numerous 911 calls today throughout the state with threats of active shooter’s in buildings. These calls appear to be coming from out of state numbers with false threats. I want to assure everyone we are working with local law enforcement agencies taking appropriate steps to ensure all students and staff are safe.”
“Again, it appears these are false threats but we will continue to take them serious and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”
LOOTPRESS will continue to provide updates on this situation as information becomes available.
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UPDATE: CLARKSBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – As reports come in from multiple schools across the state, it has been determined that an array of facilities received fraudulent reports of school shooters Wednesday morning.
Following confirmation of such reports and reassurance of no active threat from South Charleston and Huntington High Schools early Wednesday, additional reports are coming to light, including those from Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg.
The Clarksburg Police Department confirmed these reports in a Wednesday statement, detailing an investigation of the scene by the department along with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department which revealed no threat in the school building or adjacent campus buildings.
”A report of an active shooter was reported at Robert C. Byrd High School and multiple other schools throughout the state,” read the release.
“The threat at R.C.B had been deemed not credible. Clarksburg PD along with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department arrived within minutes of the call, immediately entered the school and cleared the entire building and it’s adjacent buildings on campus.”
Though an investigation into the incident, conducted within minutes of reports being received, indicated no palpable threat, authorities remain vigilant and are conducting checks at other schools throughout the city to ensure there is no danger to students or staff.
“Clarksburg PD is currently checking other city schools as a precaution and will being doing extra patrols throughout the day to ensure the safety of students and staff of these schools.”
LOOTPRESS will continue to provide updates on this situation as information becomes available.
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SOUTH CHARLESTON/HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – First responder personnel made their way to a pair of schools Wednesday morning following calls to 911 in which purported shootings were reported.
The schools specifically alluded to in these calls were Huntington High School and South Charleston High School, and authorities say the calls were made from out of state.
Both schools saw prompt response from local police who were able to confirm each scene to be safe from any such threat.
The Barboursville Police Department made reference to the purported active shooter situation at Huntington High School in a release early Monday morning.
“A few minutes ago, 911 received a call about an active shooter at Huntington High School. The called was later discovered to have originated from out of state,” read the Barboursville PD release. “Officers are on scene and there is no evidence of a shooting or shooter at the school.”
South Charleston Police Department likewise released a statement dispelling the shooting claims and dismissing the 911 calls in question as fraudulent. It was also assured that no students or staff had been injured or were in any danger.
“The 911 call placed this morning involving the South Charleston High School was a false 911 call. The building is secure, no students have been injured.”
Notably, the situation has reportedly resulted in the cancellation of a planned assembly at Huntington High School to celebrate the recent championship win for the school’s football team.
LOOTPRESS will continue to provide updates to this situation as information becomes available.
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for Kanawha County can be found here.