Fergus Falls School District Referenced in “Swatting” Hoax

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating after reports of several “swatting” calls which claim false emergencies at Minnesota schools. The B-C-A’s Drew Evans says 14 different schools across the state, including Fergus Falls, reported the calls — and there could be more.

Fergus Falls Superintendent Jeff Drake released this statement about the incident.

“This afternoon (Wednesday), the school district received communication from the Fergus Falls Police Department regarding multiple incidents of hoax (fake) active shooter reports across Minnesota and the United States.  Many school districts in Minnesota were referenced in these calls and Fergus Falls was no exception. 

Although there is no evidence to indicate that the call was anything other than a hoax, out of an abundance of caution, additional officers were dispatched to our schools for the remainder of the day.

Multiple law enforcement agencies are actively working to track down the source of these calls.  The Fergus Falls Public School District and local law enforcement work very closely together to ensure the continued safety of our students and staff.”

Evans says they believe one individual is making the calls and local and federal authorities are investigating. Similar reports have come out of Alexandra, Mankato, Rochester, Cloquet, and New Ulm. So far, no actual threats have been discovered.