MOUNT VERNON — A threatening phone call prompted the lockdown of two Knox County schools on Monday, local authorities confirmed during a late afternoon press conference.
No one was injured, including students, staff members, or officers during the incident. Local authorities did not detain a suspect. Nor did officials identify a suspect.
The threat came via a phone call about someone possibly coming to East Knox High School with a firearm, not someone physically being on the campus with a weapon.
Knox County Sheriff Dan Weckesser and East Knox Supt. Richard Baird debriefed the “active threat” lockdown that impacted both East Knox and Danville schools.
When asked about finding the origin of the threatening phone call, Weckesser said it is too early to tell for now but officers will work “diligently” on it.
As a precautionary measure, the district cancelled all Monday night activities. At the time of the press conference, Baird had not decided whether or not East Knox Local Schools would be openon Tuesday.
“The decision [to close school or not] will be made once the situation is debriefed further and we work in cooperation with law enforcement to determine the safety of our school at this time,” Baird said.
When school does get back in session, Baird said counseling will be available to those who need it.
KCSO detective Matt White and U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security detective John Bartolucci will lead the ongoing investigation.
This probe includes federal authorities because Knox County Sheriff’s Office representative Bartolucci is also an employee with the Crimes Against Children Initiative. That distinction gives him Secret Service and Homeland Security credentials, Weckesser said.
How the whole day played out from Baird’s perspective
“At 11:18 a.m. the district received an anonymous phone call from an unknown subject stating that they were armed and intended to enter the high school,” Baird said.
Minutes after receiving the threatening call, all East Knox schools immediately locked down, alerted 911 and had the school resource officer implement security measures.
Local law enforcement arrived on the scene five to six minutes later and began securing the area, according to Weckesser and Baird.
“Officers conducted a full and thorough sweep of our entire campus, and after clearing the campus, law enforcement determined that there was no active threat present,” Baird said.
Weckesser later said a thorough sweep of the campus took about an hour and that officers cleared the building twice.
“During law enforcement’s sweep of the campus, the district sent communication to families indicating that the school was under an active threat,” Baird said.
“The school district followed up with six communications to families and community as a precautionary measure. The district proceeded to implement our student reunification plan under the direction of law enforcement officials.”
Baird thanked East Knox students and staff members for following procedures, families for their patience and local law enforcement for their quick response and professionalism.
“The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority, and today’s response reflected the importance of preparation and partnership,” he added.
Sheriff Weckesser weighs in
Weckesser said KCSO received “information regarding a possible armed subject at East Knox school” at approximately 11:18 a.m.
Weckesser mentioned the school resource officer, who is from KCSO, took safety measures and later stressed the importance of School Resource Officers.
East Knox normally has two SROs on site, but Weckesser said only one was on the campus Monday.
Danville Local Schools also locked down for a portion of time and Weckesser said the school’s SRO will be present on Tuesday.
“Law enforcement officers from Knox County and surrounding jurisdictions arrived promptly and conducted a rapid and thorough clearing of the campus to ensure there were no threats,” the sheriff said.
Weckesser added that at least 40 officers from the Mount Vernon Police Department, OSP and Morrow County, Licking County, Coshocton County, Richland County and Delaware County Sheriff’s Offices all responded to the scene or were on standby.
As of the press conference, KCSO still had officers stationed at East Knox’s campus to keep families and staff members safe as they return to the campus to retrieve belongings, Weckesser said.
Also during the press conference, authorities executed the reunification process; properly reuniting students with their parents at Mount Vernon’s Energy Fieldhouse.
Weckesser and Baird answer more questions
When asked why authorities used the words “active threat” in early pieces of communication, Baird said the following:
“Because it was currently an active threat. We sent that communication out while the law enforcement officers were securing the building, but we knew parents would want to know what’s going on.
“So, when we said active threat, we didn’t know whether the situation was resolved yet or not, but we wanted to inform and be truthful with our families.”
Rumors of a SWAT team’s presence on the campus also floated around social media, Weckesser confirmed that MVPD and KCSO’s SWAT teams were present.
The large law enforcement response was a result of social media posts from parents and community members stating a man was on the campus with an assault-style rifle.
“[The armed man on the campus] information was what we were all supplied with and that’s the reason we responded like we did,” Weckesser said. “We were not able to locate anybody, but that is the reason why we all responded the way we did.”
Weckesser would not address social media rumors stating the incident was a “swatting” call from California as the investigation is ongoing.
“[Parents’] concern was right where we think it should be and where we would want it to be for their own children,” Baird said.
“The important thing now is working with parents and families to continue to take care of the health and well being of the students as well as their safety.”
The sheriff added his thoughts, too.
“We’re not going to ever do that [wait to go inside]. If there’s something going on at one of our schools, one of our businesses, we’re going to go in,” Weckesser said.
“If we establish that we have a barricade or something, and we can back out to wait till our SRT team can arrive on the scene, we will do that. But if there’s an active shooter, we’re going after them.”