Liberal and Garden City were among several schools in Kansas to go on lockdown, after law enforcement in their jurisdictions received calls regarding active shooters March 1.
Liberal/Seward County Communications Center received a call at approximately 9:10 that morning.
"The person who reported the incident claimed to be a teacher in a certain room at the school," authorities said. "USD480 confirmed they didn't have an employee by the name given and the room didn't exist."
Officers in Liberal still searched the school as a precaution, according to authorities, but found no evidence to support the report.
"Members of law enforcement were in the building immediately following the call and swept the entire building to ensure there was no threat to students," they said. "It was determined by law enforcement that LHS was part of a state-wide false alarm that went out to several high schools throughout Kansas."
According to authorities, all three LHS buildings were swept and cleared of any possible threat. The students were released from the lockdown shortly after the all-clear was given.
According to officials from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, there were numerous false reports that came in across the State of Kansas in reference to active shooters at schools that morning. All of those calls were found to be false.
Garden City Police Department Communications Center also received a call of a "shooting at Garden City High School". They received their call at 9:15 a.m.
"Local law enforcement responded accordingly and cleared the school and the surrounding area," authorities in Garden City stated. "The GCPD is aware of similar calls this morning across the state. As a precaution, USD457 schools have been placed on lockdown. USD 457 Garden City said the high school would release by academies starting at 11:50 a.m."
Along with Liberal and Garden City, 15 other law enforcement jurisdictions received the hoax calls, which came in between the hours of 7:50 and 9:50 a.m.
"As soon as the first incidents occurred, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the Kansas State Department of Education’s Safe and Secure Schools Unit, and school officials across Kansas, began collaborating to safeguard our students," the KBI said. "These calls are very serious crimes that put innocent people at risk and have potentially dangerous consequences. We are working with our partners in an attempt to identify those responsible."
Some of the other schools which were affected by the calls included: Wichita North High, El Dorado High School, Wellington High School, Russell High School, Manhattan High School West Campus, Topeka's Highland Park High, Lawrence Free State High School, The Udall school district, and the Salina School districts.
The KBI would like to remind the public that any school threats can be reported on their website, https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar
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