Hoax report of active shooter called in at Free State High School, Lawrence police say

Post last updated at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, March 1:

The Lawrence Police Department received a call regarding an active shooter at Free State High School Wednesday morning, but it was a hoax call, according to a news release from the department.

Police responded just before 8:30 a.m., according to the release.

“Although our School Resource Officer inside the school immediately identified this as a swatting incident, our response was swift and involved all officers in the area,” according to LPD.

“We at the Lawrence Police Department take this type of threat very seriously and are actively investigating, along with various law enforcement partners, to understand the scope of this crime,” the release continued.

Julie Boyle, a spokesperson for the school district, said via email that the district had been informed of a prank 911 call to LPD reporting an active shooting, from a phone number outside of the area.

“Students and staff at Free State are safe and going about their school day. There are no safety concerns at Free State,” Boyle said. “We understand that another high school in Topeka was also referenced in a similar prank call to the Topeka Police Department. Law enforcement are investigating.”

Police departments around the state reported similar hoax calls Wednesday morning:

Wichita! We received a report this morning of an active shooter at North High.

Officers responded within minutes and quickly determined that the call was false.

— Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) March 1, 2023

At around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, dispatch received a single call of an active shooter at Highland Park High School. The Topeka Police Department and local law enforcement responded accordingly, and cleared the school and surrounding area. (1/2)

— Topeka Police Department (@Topeka_Police) March 1, 2023

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