At 10am this morning, Wheaton Police announced that they were responding to Wheaton North High School for a threat called in to 9-1-1 referencing the school. While school is not in session today, students and staff who were at the school for activities were evacuated while police investigated the threat and searched the building. Wheaton Police asked anyone within a 2-block radius of the school to shelter in place and stay indoors while the investigation continued.
At approximately 10:44am, Wheaton Police indicated that they were continuing to investigate the threat, and would work to confirm there is no credible threat. The department noted, however, that similar incidents called in at other locations outside of Wheaton indicate this may be an incident known as “swatting,” in which a false threat is called in to draw a large law enforcement response to one location.
At the same time, the department lifted its shelter in place request, but informed residents near the school on Thomas, Papworth, and Morse that road closures would remain for police to continue investigating.
This story is developing…
