Several San Fernando Valley schools locked down after receiving threatening, possible ‘swatting’, phone calls

SFV schools targeted with fake phone threats

Several schools in the San Fernando Valley were locked down Tuesday after receiving threatening and suspicious phone calls.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, Calif. - A number of schools in the San Fernando Valley were briefly placed on lockdown Tuesday morning following unsubstantiated reports of an individual outside the school premises, allegedly armed with a firearm. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department believes the reports were likely "swatting" calls.

Authorities confirmed that Agoura High School in Agoura Hills and Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks both reported receiving the threatening call on Tuesday. Additionally, Verdugo Hills High School, Sylmar High School, San Fernando High School and Caesar Chavez Learning Academy all received similar calls that raised concerns about safety on campus, according to Los Angeles Unified School District officials.

LASD's Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station received a call for service earlier Tuesday morning, prompting deputies to rush to Agoura High School, located on W Driver Ave. in Agoura Hills.

Shortly after 11 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a report of a threat made to Sherman Oak's Notre Dame High School, located at 13645 Riverside Dr. According to initial information, an unidentified caller informed authorities that they had received a call from an unknown male making a threat directed at the school.

Lockdown at Agoura High School

Agoura High School was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning following unsubstantiated reports of an individual outside the school premises allegedly armed with a firearm.

Law enforcement officers conducted a thorough check of the campuses and the surrounding area as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students, staff, and faculty. Law enforcement took all necessary steps to verify the credibility of the reported threat while maintaining a heightened state of security.

Verdugo Hills High School, Sylmar High School, San Fernando High School and Caesar Chavez Learning Academy were all also placed on lockdown "out of an abundance of caution" after receiving similar calls, according to LAUSD.

The lockdown at Agoura High School was lifted shortly after 12:30 p.m. LASD officials revealed that the reported threat appeared to be unfounded. There is a growing suspicion that the incident may be a case of "swatting," a dangerous prank where false reports are made to prompt a large-scale emergency response.

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From: FOX 11

The public was reminded to rely on official statements and refrain from spreading unconfirmed information on social media to avoid unnecessary panic.

All schools have resumed normal operations, according to LAUSD.

Additional details were not immediately available.