Caller Claimed To Have Gun, Homemade Bomb Inside Oak Forest HS, Threatened To Shoot Up School: Police

OAK FOREST, IL — A lockdown at Oak Forest High School Tuesday afternoon was put in place after a swatting call reported a shooter at the school, police said Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, officials said the Oak Forest Police Department received a call on its non-emergency line from a male caller, who claimed he was inside a bathroom at Oak Forest High School. The caller claimed he had one gun with him as well as access to an additional firearm outside the school, plus an explosive device that he had made at home, police said. During the call, officials said he threatened to shoot people inside the school and ultimately claimed that he had shot someone.

Based on the nature and specificity of the information reported, Oak Forest Police immediately responded to the school and treated the call as a potential active threat, according to a new release from police. Areas inside the school near the bathroom were evacuated, while the remainder of the school was placed on lockdown. Numerous law enforcement agencies and specialized resources responded to assist.

During the response, police said investigators developed information that increasingly indicated that the reported threat was false.

"That information allowed Oak Forest Police to provide increasingly reassuring updates as the incident progressed," the release stated. "However, before concluding the response, law enforcement continued the systematic process necessary to completely clear the school and confirm that there was no actual threat."

The school was ultimately cleared, and no gun, explosive device or person matching the caller's claims was found. No students, staff members or responding personnel were injured.

Police said around 12:45 p.m. that the school had been cleared and staff would begin dismissing students for the day.

Based on the completed response and information developed during the investigation, there is no evidence that an armed individual or explosive device was ever present at Oak Forest High School or that students or staff were ever in actual danger from the reported threat, police said. The incident was quickly contained to Oak Forest High School, and there was no apparent threat to the surrounding community, according to officials.

The investigation into the source of the false threat is being referred to the FBI. Oak Forest Police will continue to assist as necessary.