Students and staff at River Glen K‑8 in Willow Glen spent part of their Tuesday locked inside classrooms after an anonymous caller phoned in a shooting threat. Teachers secured their rooms, kept students indoors and waited as police and school officials swept the campus to confirm there was no active danger. Parents got a flurry of automated texts and phone calls while officers finished the search and prepared to stay on site through dismissal.
The San Jose Police Department told The Mercury News that officers found no suspicious people or activity to back up the anonymous threat and that investigators suspect the call may have been a swatting attempt meant to trigger a bigger police response. According to the department, officers carried out a careful room‑to‑room sweep of classrooms and common areas, and there were no injuries.
The campus, listed at 1088 Broadway on the school’s website, serves elementary and middle school students in the heart of Willow Glen. The River Glen site directs families to ParentSquare and district channels for real‑time updates and lists a main office number and other contact information for families seeking more details during an incident.
District Messaging And Police Response
San José Unified sent out a text alert and automated calls about the shelter‑in‑place, but The Mercury News reported that the messages accidentally went to the entire district. District officials said the alerts were meant only for the River Glen community and acknowledged the mistake caused confusion for families at other schools. Police said they would keep a contingency of officers at the campus until students were released.
Why Hoax Calls Are Taken Seriously
False emergency reports, often called swatting, can tie up officers, put first responders at risk and disrupt entire communities, which is why authorities treat them as serious crimes. As ABC News has reported, coordinated hoax campaigns have hit schools across the country and can trigger both federal and state investigations. Closer to home, parents and safety advocates have pushed San José Unified for clearer and faster communication after a series of threats and weapons‑related incidents, according to San José Spotlight.
How Families Can Get Updates
River Glen’s website lists the main office phone number and directs families to ParentSquare for official alerts. For districtwide safety concerns, San José Unified operates a tip line at 408‑278‑6923. The school reminds parents to call 911 for emergencies and to rely on district communication channels for non‑emergency updates.
Legal Implications
If investigators determine the call was a hoax, the person responsible could face charges for false reporting or related crimes that come with fines and possible prison time. The FBI and local partners have stepped up their focus on swatting operations, ABC News reports.
