A threat made against three schools in Rutherford County has been determined not to be valid and they have all opened back up.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. A threat, reported at Blackman High School in Rutherford County, was not believed and the schools have been released from a precautionary lockdown.
Blackman High School was placed on lock down at approximately noon Tuesday after receiving a threatening phone call and police and a special officer searched the area.Blackman High School, Blackman Middle School and Blackman Elementary School were all placed on lock down Tuesday afternoon after getting a threatening phone call at about noon, while police and a special officer investigated the area.
Rutherford County Schools spokesman James Evans told parents in a message the students were safe and the campuses were secure.
The call at first seemed to be a possible “swatting” incident, where someone calls a fake threat to trigger an emergency response, Evans said.
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Evans assured parents that this is an “old fashioned security measure” we take in such cases. At first glance, this is thought to be a “swatting call” or a fake threat, but we never take such calls lightly until we have all of the facts.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said at about 1 p.m. that it had been able to clear the scene and that the threat was not seen as real.
Parents who wish to pick up their children are being asked to follow designated traffic routes:
Blackman High School: Turn in from Fortress Boulevard, exit onto Brinkley Road.
Blackman Middle School: Drive into and out of Blackman School from Brinkley Road to Fortress Boulevard.
The sheriff’s office expressed appreciation to parents for their patience and cooperation in the investigation and assured that any threat reported is taken seriously by law enforcement.
More details on the threatening call and if anyone has been identified associated with the call have not been released.