Hoax School Shooter Swat Call Threatens OLCHS During Student Events

OAK LAWN, IL — Police have given the all clear to Oak Lawn Community High School, after an apparent swatting threat was made against the high school after school hours Wednesday evening during scheduled student events. Prank active school shooting calls were reported earlier in the day in 21 Illinois cities.

Shortly after 7 p.m., the Oak Lawn Emergency Dispatch Center received a call from a male caller who claimed to be inside the high school, and threatened that he was going to start shooting. A choir concert and two volleyball games were taking place at the school. The building was placed on lockdown. When it was determined to be safe, police evacuated students, parents, staff and visitors out of the high school.

“A search of the school was completed, and no threat was found,” Oak Lawn police said in a written statement. “Every precaution will be taken, including assistance from the Cook County Bomb Squad, to ensure the safety of the school.”

Dist. 229 Supt. Michael Riordan told Patch that police cleared the school by 10 p.m. He said Oak Lawn police received multiple calls from what sounded like a “male teenager.”

“There is no threat, no bomb, no weapons, no shooting,” Riordan said. “We went into immediate lockdown. Oak Lawn police took control and did an immediate assessment. Our administration worked with police to evacuate the school.”

The source of the calls is not known at this time. Riordan said the Illinois State Board of Education sent a message to all Illinois schools Wednesday morning about rash of active school shooter swatting calls meant to evoke a significant police response.

“Nothing happened during the day,” Riordan said. “Ours happened in the evening. We don’t know right now if it were a student or anyone related to Oak Lawn Community High School.”

The high school also sent a message by text, phone call and email to families about Wednesday’s incident.

In an effort to provide clear communication to our families, we are providing available information on an incident that occurred after school hours on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

At approximately 7:00 pm, Oak Lawn Police received phone calls from an individual expressing a threat to the OLCHS campus during evening activities.

Oak Lawn Police responded to the school building and, after assessing the situation, began evacuating the campus. Once all the students, staff, and guests from the building were safely out of the building, police officers thoroughly searched the building. Out of an abundance of caution, the Cook County K-9 Unit also dispatched canine units to conduct additional searches on campus.

At this time the OLPD has determined there is not a credible threat to our school community but will continue to investigate the source of these calls. School officials are fully cooperating. All planned activities will resume tomorrow, including state testing and after-school activities.

We are thankful to our students, staff, and families for their understanding and cooperation. School safety is a priority, and it relies on everyone to participate and take preventive measures. Please continue “if you see something, say something.”

Riordan stated that OLCHS will be open on Thursday. He was “confident” that the building had been cleared of any threats.

Oak Lawn police said they were aware of other false school shooting calls made around the state earlier Wednesday. A full investigation will be conducted to identify the caller, police said.

Anyone with information or knows of someone who does, is asked to contact the Oak Lawn Police Detective Div. at 708-907-4051 or text tips to 708-613-8477.

The OLCHS incident came after several false reports of shootings at schools in Chicago and other parts of Illinois.