A chilling phone call claiming an imminent school shooting sent Portage Township Schools into lockdown Wednesday morning, as police rushed to Portage High School and swept the campus for any sign of danger.
According to police, the caller told dispatch they were armed with a rifle and a handgun, said they were outside Portage High School, and claimed they planned to carry out a school shooting before abruptly hanging up. Students and staff across the district stayed locked in classrooms and offices while officers moved through the building and the surrounding area.
The call came into the Porter County Central Communications Center at about 11:10 a.m., and the caller said they planned to "go inside" the school before ending the call, according to CBS Chicago. Officers immediately responded to Portage High School and put all Portage Township Schools on lockdown as they searched the campus and nearby grounds.
Police response and investigation
"There was no evidence of a genuine threat to safety," police told CBS Chicago, but the lockdown stayed in place while officers continued to clear the school and investigate the call.
As of the latest report, authorities have not announced any arrests or identified a suspect. Police urged families to rely on official school and law enforcement communications for information rather than rumors or social media chatter.
Local history of threats
Lockdowns tied to threat calls are not new to Porter County. In January 2023, a teen from Ohio was taken into custody after a string of threats that triggered lockdowns at schools across Lake and Porter counties, according to ABC7 Chicago.
In another case, a phone threat to Willowcreek Middle School in 2025 led to a police investigation, local outlet Lakeshore Public Media reported.
What parents should know
Portage Township Schools directs families to district-run channels and the main office phone line for verified information during incidents like this. The district lists its main number and current updates on its website, Portage Township Schools notes.
Parents with immediate concerns are encouraged to call the district’s main line and monitor official district or police accounts for confirmed updates. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
