Swatting incident at Texas high school under investigation

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – San Marcos Police are investigating after a “swatting” call Tuesday.

“This is done to cause chaos and provoke a large law enforcement response,” said San Marcos Police Chief, Stan Standridge.

Standridge said someone called 911 and reported that someone had a gun at San Marcos High School.

“I was walking in the hallway to go to the bathroom and I seen a guy walking and he had a gun and I, and I ran away,” the unidentified caller whispers to the dispatcher.

The caller tells the dispatcher that he is at San Marcos High School, shortly after the caller said, “He is walking into the bathroom” which is followed up with “No, please, please, please, please”, then you can hear at least two gunshots.

“Please know that we have since determined this call to be a hoax and consequently a criminal offense,” Standridge said.

Both officers at San Marcos High School split up to search for the threat following the call. Standridge said multiple officers responded to the scene in about three minutes following the call.

After the call police identified a student they say didn’t know about the call that came in, but told them she saw someone with a gun. That student was a minor according to police and was questioned about her information.

“We learned the involved juvenile received the information from another student,” Standridge said. “So that student was also removed and interviewed. The source of those text messages has been fully investigated and may result in the school district taking action.”

San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is also investigating the two students who claimed to have seen someone with a gun.

“Potentially if found to be guilty they would not only face criminal charges but school district charges as well,” said San Marcos CISD Superintendent Michael Cardona.

The school was taken off lockdown after police determined there was no threat to the school.

Cardona said students could be expelled for threats made towards students or a school, but their punishment depends on how the investigation goes.

Cardona said some students who make threats can end up back at school.

“But there is also a transition plan that accompanies that ensures that the safety of the campus is met,” Cardona said.

Police and the FBI are now working to find who made the call.

Standridge said the same number that called the high school was used in Michigan and another County in Texas for similar threats.

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