WEST CENTRAL OHIO (WLIO) - The news began breaking mid-morning and it sent local law enforcement, medical, and fire agencies into action. A community's worst nightmare, an active shooter call to a school. It turns out, several local school districts were included in what was determined to be a statewide hoax involving a false threat.
A false call of an active shooter at Lima Temple Christian School activated law enforcement and emergency personnel this morning. The Allen County Sheriff's Office says they got a call of an active shooter with multiple injuries. Again, the report proved to be fake after a search of the building.
"There's the initial sweep where they walk through. Obviously they were able to determine that there was not a shooter. But then after that initial sweep they go through again and to determine everything is truly is clear, that there is no absolute possible way that they missed anything. It's just a double check to be sure they were thorough that there is actually no threat," said Victoria Gonzalez, public information officer at the Allen County Sheriff's Office.
Meanwhile in Hancock County, Liberty Benton School District, Findlay City Schools, and 50 North Senior Center were all on lockdown this morning because of similar threats. A school release said the lockdown was a proactive measure and there was no actual threat. The Hancock County Sheriff's Office is releasing that they found no evidence of an active shooter either. Similar calls are being reported all around the state.
Press Release from the Allen County Sheriff's Office: Today, November 16, 2022, at approximately 9:40am the Allen County Sheriff’s Office received a call stating there was an active shooter at Lima Temple Christian School with multiple injuries. At 9:43AM law enforcement was on scene and began assessing the situation. American Township, Allen County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives, Elida Police, American Township Fire Department, and Lima Fire Department responded to the school. The first search of the building was done within minutes and it immediately clear that the report of an active shooter was false.
The school has been cleared, multiple times. There is no active shooter and there is no evidence that there had ever been one at the school. There were absolutely no injuries. The Allen County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation of this false reporting. If you have any information please contact the Allen County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.
Press Release from the Hancock County Sheriff's Office: On Wednesday 11-16-2022 at 0953 hrs. the Sheriff’s Office received an emergency 911 call reporting an active shooter incident at Liberty Benton High School , 9190 CR 9, Findlay. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of members of the Findlay Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol immediately responded. A thorough search of the school was conducted and a determination was made that the incident was a hoax and no shooting had taken place. This incident appears to be related to several other similar incidents that occurred around the state today and remains under investigation. Hanco EMS, Hancock County EMA and multiple county and city fire departments also responded to the scene to assist.
