PALOUSE, Wash. – An anonymous caller falsely reported a shooting incident near a school in Palouse, prompting a lockdown on Friday morning.
The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office says around 8:30 a.m., the caller claimed to have shot and killed their mother and threatened suicide. This led to immediate notification and lockdown of the nearby school.
Law enforcement, and medical responders from Pullman Fire responded to the scene. Deputies made contact with the home’s resident and confirmed no incident had occurred.
Authorities determined the call was likely a “swatting” incident (where emergency services are pranked) to receive a large response from officers.
Officials are investigating to track down the caller, who is suspected to be from outside the area or possibly from another country.
False reporting or ‘swatting’ is illegal but can be challenging to prosecute without determining the call’s origin.
