Students Arrested After Hoax Threat and Fake Blood Cause Panic at Adams City High School

For pulling a not-so-funny prank, two students from Adams City High School ended up getting arrested on Wednesday, 11 March afternoon. The Commerce City Police Department responded to a call of an alleged bomb threat and an active shooter at the secondary school.

The 911 call was made at around 1:00 p.m., resulting in the Adams City High School being placed on lockdown. According to 9 News, there were about 200 police officers from different agencies that responded to the false report.

After surveying the school grounds, authorities found in what appeared to be a blood trail in several areas of the premises. Police did an exhaustive search of the school but found no victims and no credible threat.

However, authorities later found two teenagers covered in what appeared to be fake blood. They later matched it with the blood trail that they previously found in the premises.

Juveniles Arrested, Then Dismissed

The two unnamed juveniles were later arrested on felony charges of false report of explosives and false report of an active shooter. They were also charged with a misdemeanor count of interference with staff or faculty of an educational facility.

CCPD Chief Darrel Guadnola was livid at the prank, admitting that calls of this nature are what most dread. He went on to point out that authorities wasting their time on a hoax could have been costly, especially if other emergencies took place, KDVR reported.

'For many, calls of this nature are their worst nightmare. Whether a first responder, a parent, a teacher or a student— most will never forget this day,' Guadnola stated.

'The notion that this call may have been part of a prank is highly disturbing and pulled valuable law enforcement resources away from real emergencies in the Denver metro,' he added.

Fake Information Dissemination Hits

Based on reports, no student was injured from the lockdown. However, there was one unnamed student who experienced an unrelated medical issue and was brought by paramedics to the hospital, the Denver Post reported.

Overall, the prank of the two juveniles caused a panic, especially from the parents of kids who attended the school. Some relied on social media for information although details shared were inaccurate. As a result, Adams County School District 14 officials urged the public to stop spreading unverified information to avoid causing a panic.

'Adams 14 encourages the public to avoid sharing unverified information on social media during incidents, as it can unintentionally increase fear and confusion for families, divert law enforcement resources and place additional strain on those working to protect students,' officials said in a statement.

Frustration on Lack of Information

Although the school district posted updates, parents grew frustrated at the lack of information they received from the incident. Some admitted they came across posts about the Adams City High School incident but noticed conflicting details.

For their part, police explained that they were being careful about what information they released to the public. The last thing they want to do is scare people, particularly with incorrect facts about the incident, regardless of whether it was authentic or a hoax. Authorities worked closely with school officials to make sure the appropriate updates were sent to concerned families.

Classes are expected to resume on Thursday. The district also said that counselling services will be available if any student needed them.