Terrified students were ordered to shelter in place at their college campus after police received a call from a person claiming to be holding someone hostage with a bomb.
Police arrived at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California about 5pm local time after the unknown caller also vowed to ‘walk around with a rifle and shoot anyone they saw on the campus.’
After an extensive search which included locking some terrified students down and evacuating others from their classrooms, authorities deemed the call a hoax.
‘The caller told dispatch they were in a restroom on the Claremont McKenna College campus, holding someone captive and threatening to harm them,’ Claremont Police Department said in a statement.
‘They also stated they had a bomb.
‘Law Enforcement personnel did not locate anyone with a weapon, and no victims were located.
‘There were no signs of any active shooter. Extensive resources were used in response to the call for service, which was later determined to be a false report or ‘swatting call.’
Classes for Pomona College were canceled due to the ongoing police activity, the school said earlier.
‘A potential threat on CMC’s campus was reported to the Claremont Police Department. A shelter in place order has been issued while police and public safety ensure the campus is secure,’ the school said in a statement.
The latest statement from the school reads: ‘Thank you for your continued patience as police continue to ensure the campus is safe.
‘The shelter in place remains in effect we will keep you informed.’
According to the LATimes, Claremont Mckenna College Dean of Students Jimmy Doan sent an all-student email at 6.18pm urging them to log their location in order for staff to locate all students.
‘We are thinking about each and every single one of you,’ he wrote.
‘Please fill out this short form to let us know your current location. We may use this information to help us track our student community.’