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False reports of shootings reported at Okemos, other high schools

February 7, 2023
<p>Emergency services respond to a school shooting call at Okemos High School on Feb. 7, 2023. Okemos was one of multiple schools who received calls though no shots were fired at any schools, police say.</p>

Emergency services respond to a school shooting call at Okemos High School on Feb. 7, 2023. Okemos was one of multiple schools who received calls though no shots were fired at any schools, police say.

Photo by Alex Walters | The State News

Meridian Township Police said multiple area police and fire agencies responded to reports of shots fired at Okemos High School in a Facebook post from around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. 

“Responding officers cleared the interior of the building and determined there was no indication of shots fired or any other danger,” the Meridian Police said in the post. “All students and faculty are safe.”

The post also said students would be transported by bus to 242 Church on Bennet Road to await pickup from their parents or guardians.

Meridian Township Police specified in the post that police agencies had responded to similar calls in Battle Creek, Detroit and Jackson.

Other social media posts confirmed that similar calls were made to high schools in Portage, Huron High School and Saginaw. All police departments have confirmed there were no shots fired.

According to a Facebook post by Ann Arbor Police Department, the caller claimed to be a teacher saying a student shot another student. Ann Arbor police said the incident is currently being investigated as "swatting," which is an intentional false report of a crime meant to invoke police reaction.

A lockdown was in place at Jackson High School but was lifted around 9:30 a.m., according to a Facebook post by Jackson Public Schools superintendent Jeff Beal. He confirmed the lockdown resulted from a call placed by an unknown Google number. He said the call had been sent to multiple schools across Michigan this morning.

City of Muskegon Police Department Captain Tim Bahorski said the call appeared to be a "state-wide hoax." He said the phone number calling the schools was coming from out of the area, possibly even out of the country.

State Rep. Julie Brixie posted that Meridian Township first responders quickly searched Okemos High School and gave an all clear. Brixie said the reports of an active shooting were false, and that similar reports were made across Michigan this morning.

Jackson, Portage Northern, Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, Michigan State Police, Meridian, MSU and East Lansing police department all were unavailable for comment at time of publication.

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