(Western Mass News – Paris Dunford, Kristin Burnell) Multiple schools across Massachusetts received hoax threats again on Tuesday after a number of schools received them on Monday.
“It’s terrifying,” said Priscilla Robinson, grandmother of a Chicopee High School student.
Robinson described what she was feeling as she stood next to dozens of other parents outside Chicopee High School Tuesday morning. Chicopee Police said they responded to the school after getting reports of a threat.
“WestComm regional dispatch received a call on the non-emergency line, indicating there was a possible threat to Chicopee High School,” said Chicopee Police Officer Travis Odiorne.
The high school was placed on lockdown and a shelter-in-place was ordered. Police formed a perimeter around the school and investigated the threat while parents stood outside and watched and worried about their loved ones inside.
“You don’t know what’s happening, you don’t know what’s going on, you don’t know where they’re at and you’ve seen all these other before,” Robinson added.
Tenth grade student Sophia Guzman told Western Mass News what it felt like being inside the school during the shelter in place.
“It was kind of shocking. It was unexpected, but I think the school did a good job with not scaring everybody,” Guzman said.
Shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday, police announced they determined the threat to be a hoax by briefing the parents outside. They believe this was part of a string of threats made across the Bay State on Tuesday, but they are still investigating how they are related and the origin of the calls.
Parents were allowed to pick up their children early if they felt more comfortable doing so and dozens of parents took the school up on their offer.
Springfield High School on Alderman Street was also the subject of a threat Tuesday morning, which turned out to be a hoax. We spoke with local legislators who tell us these types of threats must be taken seriously.
“We have to continue to take these threats very seriously. We have to continue to investigate to find out whether or not there’s a real threat. We can’t let our guard down,” said State Representative Orlando Ramos.
Tuesday was a scary day at school districts across the state as schools in Clinton, Duxbury, Edgartown, Harwich, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Fall River, and Springfield all receiving what Massachusetts State Police called hoax swatting telephone threats. It’s important to note that these threats are ones that State Police have responded to and they said there may have been other threats cleared by local police, like in Chicopee.
The most recent incidents come one day after similar threats were made to schools in Westfield, Amesbury, Boston, Chelmsford, and North Attleboro. All of those were determined to be hoaxes.
Springfield Police spokesperson Ryan Walsh told Western Mass News that police responded to and investigated what was determined a hoax threat at the high school.
“From what I understand, the FBI has become involved in these investigations and so I’m hopeful that with the resources, we will be able to get to the bottom of who is actually making these threats,” Ramos added.
Massachusetts State Police spokesperson David Procopio said in a statement, in part, “The Fusion Center is assisting in investigating the source or sources of the threats.”
Meanwhile, State Senator John Velis also shared his thoughts.
“People that are carrying out these threats need to be caught, need to be prosecuted, and need to be held accountable,” Velis said.