A hoax "shots fired" call sent the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics' Morganton campus into a tense lockdown on Friday, with classrooms sealed and staff and students rushing into safety protocols. Officers swept the campus, cleared buildings, and gave an all clear after roughly 30 minutes, and no students or faculty were harmed.
According to a Morganton Department of Public Safety news release reported by WHKY, law enforcement converged on the campus around 12:15 p.m. Friday. Agencies responding included Morganton Public Safety, the Burke County Sheriff's Office, Broughton Police, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Burke County Emergency Services, turning the normally quiet campus into a small command center.
NCSSM-Morganton confirmed the campus was on lockdown for about 30 minutes before officials sounded the all clear and resumed normal operations, per WSOC. WSOC also reports that NCSSM-Durham received a similar false threat earlier in the week, and the school is working with law enforcement to see whether the two incidents are connected.
Morganton Public Safety Chief Ryan Lander praised the multi-agency response, calling it "a prime example of how well all law enforcement agencies work together in a time of crisis," as reported by WHKY. City officials publicly thanked responding agencies and emergency-management crews for their quick actions.
Investigation and next steps
Authorities said there is no suspect at this time and the case remains under investigation, per WSOC. NCSSM and Morganton Public Safety say they will keep working with investigators and will review campus safety procedures as needed.
Why hoax calls matter
False active-shooter reports, often called "swatting," have surged nationwide, prompting lockdowns at colleges and K-12 schools and straining emergency resources, according to national reporting. TIME and research from the Educator's School Safety Network say hoax calls are increasingly common and can traumatize students and staff even when no one is physically hurt.
NCSSM said it will notify families through its usual channels and that campus leadership is coordinating closely with law enforcement on the investigation. Families seeking updates can consult the school's Morganton campus page at NCSSM.
