Police: Milford Mill Academy Threat Was Hoax

UPDATE (5 p.m.)—A rumor that someone was going to “shoot up” Milford Mill Academy Wednesday morning was determined to be a hoax, police said.

Before 7:30 a.m.,someone took a picture of a freshman with disabilities who walked into the school through the front entrance and stood in the hallway for approximately 10 minutes, police said.

The photo circulated on social media along with a rumor that the student had threatened to shoot up the school, according to police.

A parent who heard of the rumor contacted the school, prompting the police investigation, officials reported.

Police determined after interviewing him that the 15-year-old posed ”no threat to the school and the incident appears to be a rumor that got out of control,” according to the report.

The school was on lockdown for more than an hour, which was downgraded to an alert as police continued investigating, authorities said.

“We take the safety of the students and staff at our schools very seriously,” said Captain John McGann, commander of the Pikesville Precinct. ”We will thoroughly investigate any possible threat.

UPDATE (1:40 p.m.)—Parents of students who attend Milford Mill Academy may meet at the Giant parking lot in Windsor Mill for information about the situation at the school, Baltimore County police reported.

The school was placed on lockdown at approximately 11 a.m. after a parent reported that her child had information regarding a threat at the school, according to the Baltimore County Police Department. Officials are unsure how a rumor about a gun at the school began and have not found a gun, police reported. The lockdown was downgraded to “alert status” at approximately 1 p.m.

During a lockdown, everyone remains quietly in classrooms, away from doors and windows, awaiting further instructions, police said. Under “alert status,” all doors are locked from the inside with staff monitoring doors; outdoor activities canceled; and activities inside the school building continue as usual, according to police, who said alert status is used when there is a community emergency outside the building.

Police said officials continue to investigate how the rumor that there was a gun at the school started.

Parents can meet with officials at the Giant parking lot at 3602 Milford Mill Road.

(Previous story)—A school in Baltimore County is on lockdown Wednesday as authorities investigate a report of a gun, according to the Baltimore County Police Department.

There was a report of a gun at Milford Mill Academy, where the school had been placed on lockdown, police said in a statement before 11:30 a.m.

After noon, police said that officials were continuing to investigate, and that so far, a gun had not been found.

Milford Mill is located at 3800 Washington Avenue in Milford Mill.