Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a shooting threat at Newberry High School (NHS) on Monday morning that turned into a false report.
According to two Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) releases, the incident started at 9:01 a.m. when the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received a phone call from a male who threatened a mass shooting at NHS.
Levy County Communications personnel reported that the male called their non-emergency administrative line and provided a name and date of birth, claiming to be an NHS student, and said he was inside a bathroom and armed with a rifle before the call disconnected.
At the time, both an ASCO sergeant and a deputy were on campus. The two deputies notified NHS staff to start a lockdown that ensured all students were removed from the hallways and secured. Additional ACSO deputies arrived on scene. The two deputies at NHS started the campus-wide search and found no threat. All NHS students and staff were reported safe.
The ACSO is reporting that this was a “swatting” call, which is a false report intended to provoke an emergency law enforcement response, often made using a spoofed internet-based phone number.
NHS Principal James Sheppard sent the following message to the ACSO:
“I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the exemplary performance of your team during the recent threat response at our facility.
“The professionalism and dedication demonstrated by your officers were truly commendable. Their swift and organized approach to clearing the building instilled a sense of safety and reassurance among our teachers and staff. The level of communication throughout the incident was outstanding, contributing significantly to the effectiveness of the operation.
“Please extend my gratitude to all the ASO officers involved. Their hard work and commitment did not go unnoticed, and I felt it was important to acknowledge their efforts.
Thank you once again for your leadership and the vital role your team plays in ensuring our safety.”