“Swatting Hoax” call prompts police to sweep Uvalde High and Morales Junior High Schools
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LaPryor ISD schools placed in secure status as a result of the suspicious call
A Uvalde CISD student’s picture posted on social media Thursday afternoon.
by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian
01-17-25
Top Photo by J. Anson Bills
A suspicious 911 phone call prompted Uvalde CISD to place Uvalde High and Morales Junior High Schools on Hold status as law enforcement responded to a potential threat. LaPryor ISD placed their campuses on in Secure status as a result of the call.
A student of either Uvalde High School or Morales Junior High posted a picture on social media Thursday afternoon of an officer with a shotgun in a school’s hallway with the caption, “Hell Yeah”
Uvalde County Constable Emmanuel Zamora posted on his Facebook page that a large police presence was observed at 1:45PM.
Ther following timeline was also posted by Zamora:
1:45 PM: Uvalde CISD schools are being extra patrolled due to a suspicious call.
Uvalde CISD Police are CONFIRMING everything is ok. Updates will be provided ASAP.
UPDATE: 2:02 PM by UCISD.
Morales Junior High and Uvalde High School are on a Hold Status due to an incident that was called into the Uvalde PD regarding the Uvalde High School. Uvalde CISD PD, DPS Troopers, and Uvalde PD are on the campus to sweep the campus. Parents are asked not to visit the campuses at this time. More information will be released shortly.
2:18 pm
Update to our Morales Junior High and Uvalde High School Caregivers….
The Hold Status has been lifted at both campuses. Your cooperation and patience were very much appreciated. Please know that there will be an increased police presence at both campuses. We are asking parents and caregivers to allow the school day to return to the normal schedule and allow a regular dismissal of the school day. This incident directly resulted from a swatting hoax called into the Uvalde PD. The district is working with all law enforcement agencies to gather more information to be released as it becomes available. Your support and cooperation are greatly appreciated.
Parent J. Anson Bills stated that he observed other parents’ cars on 2nd Street and Studer street causing increased traffic which in the event of a real emergency could delay 1st responders in reaching the schools.
Uvalde CISD released the following statement as a press release:
“Today, an unfortunate situation unfolded when the Uvalde Police Department received a 911 call shortly before 2 p.m., reporting an active shooter on the third floor of Uvalde High School. We want to emphasize that Uvalde High School does not have a third floor. Nevertheless, the Uvalde Police Department, DPS Troopers, Border Patrol, and Uvalde CISD Police Department responded promptly and conducted a comprehensive sweep of the campus. As a precaution, Uvalde High School and Morales Junior High were placed on Hold Status to ensure student safety by bringing them indoors and clearing the hallways. A lockdown was not initiated, as no active threat was identified on or around the campus.
We are relieved to confirm that no active shooter was found following a thorough search, and the claims were determined to be false. This incident has been classified as a swatting hoax, especially since a similar call was made to a school in San Antonio. To maintain safety and provide peace of mind, there was a heightened police presence at both campuses until the conclusion of the school day.
We acknowledge the anxiety and fear that such situations can cause among our students, staff, and community members. It is important to remind everyone that counseling support is available for students who may need it, and they are encouraged to reach out to their campus counselors. Additionally, community resources can be accessed on the Uvalde CISD webpage under the Counseling Resources section, providing access to Counseling/Behavioral Health Service Providers.
We extend our gratitude to the Uvalde Police Department, DPS Troopers, Border Patrol, and the Uvalde CISD Police Department for their swift and coordinated response, showcasing professionalism during these critical moments. Rest assured, our top priorities remain the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We are committed to maintaining a secure and nurturing educational environment for everyone.”
