Police: McArthur High lockdown lifted, report of possible threat unfounded
MIAMI- McArthur High School was on lockdown for hours after police received reports of a shooter and someone wearing body armor.
Police say the threat was made just before 1 pm and the school was immediately placed on lockdown.
While the threat wasn't credible, it caused quite a scare for parents, students, and the community.
A mother we spoke with says seeing dozens of police cars lined up outside of your kids' school is enough to make any parent nervous.
"He says yes I'm safe and he wanted to make sure his sister is on lockdown too," said Angela Rodriguez, as she holds back tears reading text messages from her son.
"I just get a call from my him, all scared, not knowing what's going on," she said.
Unable to reach her daughter and with little to no information about what's going on inside the school, another mother we spoke with says this is what all parents fear.
"I'm scared. I'm shaken up. I'm scared," said Nakeanya Noles.
Hollywood Police swarming McArthur High School, shutting down Pines Blvd for hours.
They say the threat was made over the phone.
"We got a 911 call around 12:50 saying there was a possible shooter and a person with body armor on," explained Deanna Bettineschi, Public Information Manager for the Hollywood Police Department.
Officers swept the building and determined the threat wasn't credible.
"Today was avoidable someone decided to make a fake 911 call," says Broward County Superintendent Vickie Cartwright. "It traumatizes the children, the staff, the parents, and the surrounding community. There is no tolerance for this type of behavior," she adds.
Cartwright says whoever is responsible will be held accountable.
"It can result in expulsion, it can result in an arrest, it can result in criminal history," she said.
Hollywood Police still don't know who made the threat.
The investigation is ongoing.
