NEWARK, Ohio (AP) — Ohio authorities arrested two 11-year-old students on suspicion of calling 911 with false reports of active shooters at three nearby schools.
Newark police announced two students were arrested Thursday after officers responded to reports of an active shooter at all three school locations to find no threat.
The two boys were students at Newark City Schools, according to news outlets.
Newark Police Sgt. Doug Wells said the department received a number of calls from parents concerned about what was going on. Officials said Liberty Middle School was one the schools reported under attack.
“When police showed up was the first we’d heard anything,” Newark City Schools spokesman Seth Roy said. “Police checked out the building and determined the calls were false.”
A police news release laid out the seriousness of the crime.
“The Newark Division of Police will not tolerate these types of calls and will continue to investigate and prosecute all cases like this one,” release stated.