The Durango School District and local law enforcement responded Wednesday morning to a false threat – sometimes referred to as “swatting” – targeting Durango High School.
At least 14 other schools in the state reported receiving threats over the phone Wednesday, according to KK11 TV and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
“As with any report, the situation was taken seriously and investigated thoroughly in coordination with local law enforcement,” said Karla Sluis, Durango School District spokeswoman. “The call was determined to be a hoax, and there was no ongoing threat.”
Sluis declined to share the content of the call.
“Our schools are safe, and student and staff safety remains our top priority,” she said. “The district is careful not to share unnecessary details about hoax incidents, as they are designed to cause fear and disruption and can encourage copycat behavior. We encourage the community to rely on verified information from the district and law enforcement and to avoid spreading speculation or unconfirmed details.”
The Durango Police Department and the county responded to the false threat, according city spokesman Tom Sluis.
“Any threat involving a school is taken seriously,” he said in a written statement. “Our officers and school staff acted quickly to ensure everyone’s safety while investigators worked with our state and federal partners. This incident appears consistent with a broader hoax affecting multiple schools, and we will continue coordinating with partner agencies as the investigation continues.”
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