Durango High School was placed on a “secure hold” Wednesday morning after 911 dispatchers received a report that somebody wanted to “do some harm to the high school,” said Kathy Morris, director of security for Durango School District 9-R.
The threat was received about 9:15 a.m., prompting numerous Durango Police Department officers to respond to the high school. Officers surrounded the school, swept through the hallways and determined there was no threat about an hour later.
“DPD will continue to investigate this incident and is working with our local, state, and federal partners in the ongoing investigation,” read an announcement posted on the police department’s Facebook page.
The school district issued an emergency message about 9:50 a.m. that read: “The La Plata County 911 Communications Center notified DHS that an unknown person reported that there was an armed subject approaching the campus. Durango Police Department immediately deployed law enforcement to secure the campus. Upon arrival, officers have not identified or located a threat but are still securing the scene.”
The Denver Post reported that more than a dozen schools across Colorado received similar threats in what appears to be coordinated “swatting” calls.
After the sweep, the 9-R posted a follow up message: “Today the FBI reported that many schools across the nation received information that there was a threat to safety. ... The district and local law enforcement take all threats very seriously. DHS went into a secure lockout, and officers quickly responded to search the campus. After an extensive search, no threats were identified. Officers determined that the scene was secure.”
DHS was released from the secure lockout at 10:07 a.m.
During the response, students were kept in their classrooms, but classroom instruction went on as normal. Students did not change classes as usual.
Exterior doors were locked, which is typical for any school day.
No one was allowed to enter or leave the building, Morris said.
shane@durangoherald.com
