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Sharonville PD: Active shooter report at Princeton High School a hoax

The school is closed for the day, parents are reuniting with kids at Vineyard Church
Princeton active shooter hoax.png
Posted at 10:33 AM, Sep 23, 2022
and last updated 2022-09-23 20:06:26-04

SHARONVILLE, Ohio — The Sharonville Police Department said the report of an active shooter at Princeton High School is a hoax.

Sharonville police have gave the all-clear at Princeton High School around 11:30 a.m., and the initial 911 call with the false report came in just before 10 a.m.

According to investigators, Sharonville police received a transferred 911 from Cincinnati that allegedly came from inside the school. The caller claimed that there was an active shooter and there were 10 people injured. The caller detailed that the shooter was wearing body armor and was carrying an AR-15.

Sharonville police are conducting an investigation into the false report. The 911 caller that reported the fake active shooter left a phone number with a California area code, but police have not identified any possible suspects or leads in the investigation.

"After a thorough search of the building, there's no active shooter. There never was an active shooter. It appears to be a part of a national hoax as we've received reports from other districts around the country as well as locally of similar reports," Princeton City Schools Superintendent Burton said. "We appreciate the quick response from the local law enforcement."

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said in a statement whoever is involved in the hoax better be "ready for prison."

"The threat of a school shooting is every parent’s worst nightmare," Deters said. "I can’t imagine how scared these parents and kids were today. Orchestrating a hoax like this is beyond offensive.  It is stupid and completely illegal. Innocent people and first responders could have easily been injured. Law enforcement will find out who did this.  And when apprehended, they better be ready for prison."

The school dismissed students via buses and closed for the day. Princeton Middle School also decided to shut down for the day and sent students home due to the hoax, Sharonville police said.

Parents were able to pick children up at the nearby Vineyard Cincinnati Church. Children who's parents weren't able to pick them up were bussed home.

Princeton High School's Friday night football game against Fairfield high school was postponed.

The threat to Princeton was one of several false reports to multiple Ohio schools Friday. There were six areas — including Cleveland, Springfield, Akron — false reports in the state.

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