COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 16-year-old girl was arrested after she confessed to calling in a threat to Whitehall-Yearling High School, causing the school to go on lockdown Thursday, police say.
The school was placed on lockdown and officials ended the day early after the girl allegedly called in a threat about a situation involving a gun during the morning hours. School officials said after receiving the call, the high school administration "acted swiftly to ensure the safety of all students and staff."
According to Whitehall Police Lt. Tanner Williams, the superintendent's office received a phone call from someone who identified themselves as a parent of a student. The caller told the superintendent that their students had a gun at the school.
The district said a level 3 lockdown was ordered and some classes were evacuated.
Whitehall police conducted an investigation and search of the property. Officers found no credible threat.
Around the same time of the lockdown, there were reports of gunshots in the area. The district said police determined that no shots were fired and the sound was from a car backfiring while someone was doing auto work nearby.
The teen girl was not a student at the school, police said. She is charged with swatting, a felony of the fourth degree.
According to a letter sent out to Whitehall City Schools families, Superintendent Sharee Wells said almost every family chose to pick up their students early and the school proceeded to end the day early.
There was a two-hour delay on Friday due to the incident. During the delay, counselors were available to support students and families.