11/9/23

A REPORT OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING IN COTTONWOOD TURNED OUT TO BE A HOAX. 

COTTONWOOD POLICE REPORT SOMEONE CALLED IN A SHOOTING INCIDENT AT THE SCIENCE VORTEX ON NORTH WILLARD STREET AROUND 1:13 P.M. WEDNESDAY. OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND SECURED THE AREA, WITH THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS PLACED IN LOCKDOWN. AN INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CALL WAS A HOAX, PHONED IN BY A JUVENILE STUDENT. 

COTTONWOOD POLICE ARE CALLING THIS A CASE OF “SWATTING,” IN WHICH SOMEONE MAKES A FALSE REPORT TO ELICIT A LARGE POLICE RESPONSE. THIS TACTIC HAS BEEN USED SEVERAL TIMES ON YOU-TUBE COMMENTATORS INCLUDING TIM POOL AND THE QUARTERING TO INTERRUPT THEIR LIVESTREAMS. A RELEASE BY COTTONWOOD POLICE READS, “THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SERIOUS MATTER IS ACTIVE AND ONGOING. THE COTTONWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE INCIDENT."