Columbus police say a call came in about an alleged shooting at East High School Tuesday afternoon at 12:45. Police and fire responded, but found no threat. The Delaware County Sheriff's office received a call a short time later, claiming there was a similar situation at Olentangy High School in Lewis Center. The building was evacuated, but the sheriff's office later confirmed the call was a hoax.
Law enforcement in Dayton, Akron, Cincinnati and Clermont County also got the prank calls. But it wasn't just an Ohio phenomena; in Iowa, officials reported calls in as many as 30 districts.
The practice of "swatting" - intentionally reporting a fake or misleading threat in order to trigger a response from emergency services - is illegal.
Following a wave of swatting calls in 2022, Ohio lawmakers passed a law making such calls a fourth degree felony, with a sentence of up to 18 months. An FBI spokesperson last fall said new technology enables the agency to trace back such anonymous calls.
