This post was updated at 5:30 p.m. with more information
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Students and staff experienced some tense moments Wednesday afternoon at Bay High School.
The school went under lockdown after someone made a 911 call, reporting a shooting on campus.
The call came in a few minutes after 12:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Bay County Sheriff’s deputies and Panama City Police responded, searched the campus, and found nothing.
They determined the call was what’s known as a “swatting” incident, when someone calls in a false report of a deadly event, just to get a large police response.
They believe the same person also called in false reports in other cities.
“We just cannot stress enough how terrifying these situations are for everyone involved, including the parents but certainly the students and the staff and our whole community and we just wish law enforcement all the best in their active investigation,” Bay District Schools Director of Communications Sharon Michalik said. “We hope that they find the person that was responsible.”
Classes resumed after the lockdown but many parents pulled their kids out of school.
School counselors were also available for students who were traumatized by the incident.
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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — A 911 call about a shooting at Bay High School was false and authorities are now investigating the “swatting” incident, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
“The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 911 shooting call at Bay High School at about 12:15 PM today. The Panama City Police Department and the BCSO were on campus within minutes, placing it on lockdown and quickly searching the buildings,” deputies wrote. “Working in partnership with administration, found nothing involving a shooting.”
They added that a “Swatting Call” is when someone calls 911, makes a fake report of a deadly event taking place and causes a large police response. Classes resumed after the lockdown.
This is a developing story and we will have more information as it becomes available.