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CLEARFIELD — A prank call reporting a gunman at North Davis Junior High launched a massive police response Tuesday from law enforcement across Davis County and put three schools into lockdown.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the prank call and faces possible charges of making terroristic threats, a third-degree felony, police said.
Clearfield Police Sgt. Kyle Jeffries said the call came from a landline within the school about 2:24 p.m. The caller whispered there was someone in the school with a gun, but he couldn't talk. Two 911 hangup calls also came from the school's phones at about the same time.
Jeffries said police identified the student who made the call thanks to tips from classmates. Investigators were meeting with the boy and his parents Tuesday afternoon.
"It's extremely terrible for all of us," Jeffries said, simultaneously giving thanks for the quick and efficient countywide response. "Not only that, we've got thousands of kids that are crying and upset and worried. … They don't have a clue, and with what they've seen on the news lately, I can only imagine what the kids were thinking."
Neighboring Clearfield High School and South Clearfield Elementary Schools were also placed on lockdown as precautions.
The junior high school was placed on lockdown Tuesday afternoon after police reportedly received a 911 call about a person with a gun. The school was placed in lockdown as a precaution. There were no reports of injuries or shots fired. Later, officials reported that the gunman was a possible prank by a student.
A large number of police officers surrounded the school at 835 S. State and also went room to room clearing the building.
By 3:30 p.m., city officials said the threat had been cleared and students were being moved to a church at 935 S. State where parents could pick up students.
Neighboring Clearfield High School and South Clearfield Elementary Schools were also placed on lockdown as precautions.
North Davis Junior High has approximately 1,150 students.
The district said there would be school tomorrow at the three schools, and counselors will be on hand to work with children.
