Utah Schools Disturbed by Active Shooter Hoax Calls

Utah public safety officials said the calls alleging shootings at more than a dozen schools in the state on Wednesday were found to be "a hoax."

According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, the calls, which prompted swift police responses, were located offshore and made by an individual using a number with an internet protocol address outside the country.

KSL reported that it turned out that every single reported threat was completely unsubstantiated. The Utah public safety officials said at least 13 Utah schools received hoax emergency calls between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

However, they did not reveal which country the calls came from, but they are working with local and federal law enforcement on the investigation. The spate of calls follows similar patterns observed in other parts of the country that started this week.

"I want to say how sad I am that there are individuals in this world that would report a hoax like this on our high school students, the staff, our police officers, our fire officers - how sad I am that our country has gotten to this point where this kind of thing is OK, [but] it's not," said Ogden chief administrative officer Mark Johnson, as he addressed one of the calls made to Ogden High School.

Police dispatchers got an alert of "an active shooter" at the school around 9:30 a.m., and officers and other emergency personnel flocked to Ogden High School, said Ogden Police Capt. Tim Scott.

He added that the caller claimed that shots were fired and several students were killed and injured by gunfire. Upon arrival, Scott said the first responders went "hunting" for a shooter using long guns.

He noted that law enforcers and firefighters kept their cool while scouring the entire campus to eliminate potential dangers. Police officers reportedly only knew that the call was "a hoax" while in the middle of clearing out the school.

Active Shooter Threat Hoax Traumatizes Students, Teachers, and Parents in Utah Schools

Community leaders in Ogden held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, and they commended the police's quick response but also expressed sadness that this incident occurred, KUTV reported.

Students, teachers, and family members are traumatized because of the incident, said Ogden Deputy Fire Chief Shelby Willis, adding that such a thing is not okay. Students at Ogden High School were dismissed and sent home early after police cleared the facility.

Superintendent Luke Rasmussen of the Ogden School District hailed the police reaction as "tremendous" and promised to use the incident to his district's advantage. Ogden police said they treat any threat very seriously.

Authorities Investigating Active Shooter Hoax Calls in Utah Schools

St. George News reported that the active shooter hoax calls in Utah and other parts of the country are reportedly being investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies.

"We have received a phone message reporting an active shooter at a local high school," Utah's Richfield City Police Department said in a Facebook post, adding that officers have responded to the call but did not find any evidence that there is a shooter around or any violent activity going.

"Investigations are taking place across the state and country as other states are receiving similar reports," police noted.

Any individual who knowingly makes a false report of a catastrophe in Utah could be charged with a third-degree felony or a class B or level 2 misdemeanor. This person could also be liable for damages, including the cost of the response.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: HOAX SCHOOL SHOOTING CALLS: Salt Lake City Police respond to Active Shooter Hoax Calls Statewide - From KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City