'Swatting' Call Prompts Lockdown At Schools l In Hayward: Police

HAYWARD, CA — Authorities say false reports of a shooting at a middle school in Hayward led to a significant police response and lockdown on Wednesday afternoon.

Police say the false report claimed a shooting happened at Bret Harte Middle School around noon.

Officers responded to the scene and searched the campus, but found no evidence of a shooting or anyone injured, according to the Hayward Police Department.

Investigators suspected this may have been a "swatting" call, or a false report of a violent event that can trigger a heavy police response, according to authorities.

The original call was traced to the area of Treeview Elementary School, prompting officers to inspect the school and ensure everyone's safety, authorities said.

Nobody was injured at the elementary school, and lockdowns were lifted after officers ensured there was no viable threat, police said.

The call's origin remains unclear.

"Swatting" can seriously endanger the lives of others given the confusion they may cause, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It also pulls resources from departments and can create mistrust during emergency responses, as not being able to assess true threats effectively can impact responders' abilities, DHS said.