Palouse School locked down for 'swatting' hoax

PALOUSE, Wash. -- The Palouse School was locked down Friday morning for a report of a deadly shooting that turned out to be a hoax.

According to the Whitman County Sheriff's Office, an anonymous individual reported he had shot and killed his mother during an argument. When the caller provided the address the shooting took place, it was across the street from the school.

The caller also reported he was suicidal and armed.

Law enforcement notified the school, and it was placed on lockdown.

During the investigation, deputies determined there was no initial shooting and the call was a "swatting" which is a hoax used to initiate a large law enforcement response to a specific location.

The school lockdown has since been lifted.

The sheriff's office says the caller is unknown but, based on preliminary information, the call was from out of the area and possibly out of the country.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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