UPDATE: BCSO confirms hoax ‘active shooter’ calls regarding CGTC, Rutland HS
The lockdown/shelter in place advisory is now lifted. Law enforcement agencies have left the scene.
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
UPDATE (4:30 p.m.): Central Georgia Technical College is revealing more information after a hoax active shooter call on Tuesday led to a lockdown of its Macon campus.
According to a school news release, a 911 call was made to Macon-Bibb County dispatch just after 1 p.m. about an active shooter threat at the Macon campus. The school says CGTC Police, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol responded “immediately within minutes of notification.”
“CGTC sent an emergency notification alert to the Macon campus group at 1:37 pm advising of the alert to shelter in place, followed by an institutional alert at 2:07 pm to advise the College community of the situation, as authorities continued to assess the validity of the threat,” the release said. “At 2:25 pm, when the all-clear was given, a follow-up message was sent to the College community via the CGTC emergency alert system that the threat was a hoax and normal campus operations had resumed.”
CGTC says Bibb County Board of Education dual enrollment students on campus were delayed briefly but later released once the all-clear was given.
“After initial assessments indicated the situation was a hoax, law enforcement officials continued their sweep of the entire campus and all buildings to ensure student, staff, and faculty safety,” the release added.
The school’s leadership expressed its “immense gratitude” to law enforcement and first responders for their “prompt attention to the threat” and “assurance to the safety of its students, faculty, staff and the Macon-Bibb Community.”
“The response time is something the College and community should be proud of.”
UPDATE (3:20 p.m.): Central Georgia Technical College issued an “all clear” alert on Tuesday afternoon about an hour after reports of an active shooter on campus.
The lockdown/shelter in place advisory is now lifted. Law enforcement agencies have left the scene. The sheriff’s office has confirmed that this incident was a hoax call.
Deputies also confirmed a second hoax call at Rutland High School. The Bibb County School District provided the following statement:
Rutland High received a call close to dismissal this afternoon from an individual threatening to harm students. Campus Police conducted an immediate sweep of the campus and found all to be routine and safe. The initial messages sent to parents of Rutland High and Rutland Middle students through ParentSquare appear below. After further investigation, it has been determined there was no specific identified threat to the Rutland campus. The caller did not identify their location or threaten Rutland High School specifically. The phone number was also identified as a spoof number. The safety of students and staff is a top priority of Bibb County School District. We will continue to remain diligent and transparent in our actions to keep everyone informed and safe.
Good afternoon, Rutland High parents. We received a phone call close to dismissal today claiming there was an active incident at our school. Emergency officials were notified and conducted a safety and security assessment of the building, and it was determined the call was a hoax. All students and staff are safe, and dismissal will continue as planned.
Good afternoon, Rutland Middle parents. Rutland High received a phone call close to its dismissal time today claiming there was an active incident at the school. Emergency officials were notified and conducted a safety and security assessment of the campus, and it was determined the call was a hoax. All students and staff are safe, and all complex dismissal is continuing as planned.
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
ORIGINAL STORY:
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Central Georgia Technical College says police are responding to reports of an active shooter on the school’s Macon campus Tuesday afternoon.
In a Facebook post just before 2 p.m., the college said campus police and local law enforcement are on scene assessing the situation.
“If you are on the Macon campus, please shelter in place at this time,” the post read. “We will update you on this matter as we know more.”
No additional information has been released.
The Macon campus is located on Macon Tech Drive just off Eisenhower Parkway.
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
