PIERCE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) - Schools in the West Clermont School District were on lockdown Thursday morning.
The Clermont County Sheriff's Office confirmed the lockdown of all schools in the West Clermont School District.
Police say that the threat to "shoot up my kids' school" was made by a 35-year-old woman on Thursday morning at an area gas station. When she left, the clerk alerted Pierce Township police. Because police did not know which school her kids attended, an emergency lockdown across the district was called.
The woman, identified by Clermont County Sheriff's Office as Helen Kemplin, a mother of two, was tracked down using video from the gas station. She was taken into custody. Chief Paul Broxterman with the Pierce Township Police Department said she did not have any weapons.
The full statement from West Clermont Superintendent, Natasha L. Adams:
West Clermont families and staff,
This morning, Clermont County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with Pierce Township and Union Township Police Departments, notified the district that an adult community member made a generalized threat toward our schools. No specific school was identified. As a precaution, we were directed to go into lockdown. Immediately, we instituted our district's safety protocols. While law enforcement investigated and apprehended the suspect, district schools remained on lockdown until we received full clearance from all local law enforcement departments.
During the incident, local law enforcement provided additional security and assistance to every school in our district. While the lockdown is now lifted, local police will maintain visibility across our district for the remainder of the day.
We were reminded again of how grateful we are to our local law enforcement for their rapid response and their commitment to always maintain open lines of communication with our school district.
Sincerely,
Natasha L. Adams
Superintendent and CEO
West Clermont Schools
Pierce Township Police say Kemplin is facing making terroristic threats and inducing panic charges.