Idaho high schools placed on lockdown; officials say threats are a ‘hoax’

Law enforcement officials are calling reports of safety threats at Idaho schools a “regional hoax” after several high schools were placed on lockdown Wednesday morning.

Columbia High School in Nampa and Caldwell High School were placed on lockdown Wednesday after law enforcement received calls alleging threats there. The Twin Falls Times-News reported that Canyon Ridge High School was shut down Wednesday after police received reports — proved to be false — of an active shooter.

Canyon County spokesperson Joe Decker said in a news release that there were several “spoof” calls to schools throughout the state Wednesday morning alleging that attacks took place.

“There was an immediate and robust response by law enforcement in each of these areas, and several schools have gone into lockdown as a precaution,” Decker said. “At this time, it appears that this is a hoax and no verified attacks or injuries have been discovered.”

The fake threats appear to be part of a nationwide trend, including in Colorado on Wednesday. Decker said schools in Oregon, California, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada received similar calls.

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said in a news release Wednesday that she is thankful for the quick action from school administrators and law enforcement.

“I am aware that several schools were impacted today by threats of violence, and that the threats do not appear to be valid,” Critchfield said. “State Department of Education staff have been in touch with districts and will continue to stay apprised of the situation.”

Canyon County schools placed on lockdown

According to a tweet from the Nampa School District, the Nampa Police Department initially requested that Columbia High be placed in hall check, requiring students to stay in the classroom behind locked doors, after receiving a call reporting an emergency incident at the school. Instruction continues while students are placed in hall check, Decker said.

At 10 a.m., police then requested the school be placed on lockdown. Students riding the bus to school were taken back to their homes, the district said in a tweet.

At about 11:45 a.m., Nampa police cleared the school and students were taken out of lockdown. Police said they did not locate a threat and called the incident a “regional hoax.”

The Caldwell Police Department said on Facebook that Caldwell High was placed on lockdown, with other local schools put in hall check.

“We take all threats extremely seriously, and investigate to the fullest extent,” Caldwell police said on Facebook. “We realize how disruptive and traumatic this can be, especially for our children, and we are working on clearing the schools as soon as possible and ensuring all student and staff safety.”

This was the Caldwell School District’s second false report of a threat recently. Caldwell Middle School was placed in hall check last Friday because of a bomb threat.

Law enforcement agencies in Ada County also received bogus reports of a school shooting, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet Wednesday.

“The calls have been checked and none of the reports have been valid,” the office said. “Investigators are working to track the source of the calls.”