This morning (February 25) began the second day of hoax calls/swatting incidents within St. Johns County Schools. Pacetti Bay Middle School received a call from an unknown male subject this morning advising he was at a residence near the school, had firearms and explosives, had committed a homicide, and made threats against the school. The assigned youth resource deputy was onsite and took over communications on the phone with the subject. The school was placed on lock down briefly while SJSO resources flooded the area and investigated the allegations. Investigation revealed there is no credible threat, and the circumstances are similar in nature to the hoax incident at Landrum Middle School yesterday.
Both circumstances are consistent with a “swatting call” which involves a hoax emergency call to generate a large law enforcement response. Regardless of the circumstances, SJSO and the St. Johns County School District will always respond to threats with as many resources as possible until we are confident students and staff are safe.
“Over the past two days, a few St. Johns County schools have received threatening phone calls from an unknown source,” said Superintendent Tim Forson. “We work collaboratively with the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office to ensure our schools, students and staff are safe and all such threats are fully investigated. If appropriate, schools will be placed on lockdown until the campus is inspected and cleared.”
“We are working with our federal and state law enforcement partners to determine the origin of the call and hopefully identify the individual(s) responsible,” said Sheriff Rob Hardwick. “We understand the emotional impact these cowards who hide behind keyboards have had on parents, staff and students and we will continue to work with the St. Johns County School District to keep our schools safe.”
Please see the situational awareness brief from SJSO and educational materials on hoax calls and swatting.