Schools locked down due to threat

BOUNDARY COUNTY — An anonymous caller Wednesday reported a threat to schools in Idaho, prompting several Boundary County schools to go into lockdown mode.

At 9:41 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Boundary County Middle School received an anonymous threatening phone call, warning of a school shooting about to happen, Andrew O’Neal, Boundary County Public Information Officer wrote in a press release. The middle school reported the call to law enforcement and locked down the school, while the Boundary County School District implemented precautionary measures at other county schools.

Law enforcement officers from Bonners Ferry Police Department, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game responded, searched the schools and reviewed security camera footage. All schools were cleared, and school activities have returned to normal, he wrote.

Similar threatening phone calls were received at schools across the state this morning and all appear to have been hoaxes, he said.

All threats are taken seriously, and the Boundary County School District 101 trains closely with law enforcement on responding to threats to schools, he said. The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office is working with state and federal law enforcement partners to help determine who made the threatening phone calls and to seek prosecution of the perpetrator(s).

Idaho State Police announced that several jurisdictions across Idaho also received a 911 call reporting a threat to schools.

In Coeur d’Alene, Lake City High School was locked down due to a report of a possible threat. In addition, Nampa Dispatch received a call reporting an emergency incident at Columbia High School.

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said several schools were impacted on Feb. 22 by threats of violence, but added that the threats do not appear to be valid.

State Department of Education staff have been in touch with districts and will continue to stay apprised of the situation, she said.

"I’m thankful for the quick action from school administrators and law enforcement to ensure the safety of students in the affected schools," she said.

Schools in Bonner County were closed on Wednesday due to weather and road conditions.