The following are two press releases, one from the Weakley County Schools, the other from Martin Police:
From Weakley County Schools:
By Erica Moore, Weakley County Schools Communications Director
Westview High School and Martin Middle School were placed on soft lockdown after a hoax phone call was received. Westview High was named in the hoax call, and because of proximity to the campus, Martin Middle also followed protocol into a soft lockdown.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) released information at approximately 11:00 AM today that they are currently working with state and federal partners to determine the source of several similar hoax calls, placed to local law enforcement agencies, reporting an active shooter at several high schools in the state. The TBI stated that none of these reports are proven credible and there is no known immediate threat to public safety at this time.
Director of Schools Randy Frazier said, “We appreciate the Martin Police Department and Sheriff’s Department personnel that were in route to Westview High prior to learning that the phone call was a hoax. We are thankful for all that you do.”
Local law enforcement found no threat after they performed a full facility check of every classroom and space at Westview High. School officials issued robocalls and texts to inform the families of students.
In addition to the SRO, the Martin Police Department will be providing additional officers on campus for the remainder of the day to provide parents and the community with an extra sense of safety and security.
From Martin Police Department:
Today at 10:44am, a call was received that made claims of shots having been fired at Westview High School. The SRO at Westview was notified immediately. MPD officers, Sharon PD officers, members of THP, TBI and Weakley County Sheriff’s deputies made an immediate response to the school. The school was placed on lockdown by Principal Brian Allen. No threat or information pertaining to shots having been fired was apparent upon officers’ arrival. Almost immediately, information was received from the TBI and other agencies that these types of calls had been received by schools all over the state and the U.S. These were spoofed cell phone calls that were anonymously generated by computer.
After determining that there was no immediate threat, the entire school campus was checked by officers and the building was thoroughly cleared. Parents should have received a robo call or text advising of the situation from the Weakley County School System. Westview High School has been taken off of lockdown and normal school activities have resumed. There will be extra MPD officers at the school for the remainder of the school day for extra assistance with traffic and security.
The Martin Police Department would like to thank all of the agencies that assisted and responded today. We would also like to thank the administration, faculty and staff of Westview High School for their quick and helpful assistance as well. As we have stated previously, the mission of MPD and the Weakley County School System is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all of the students in Weakley County.
