Ellsworth, WI – Students and staff at multiple Ellsworth schools were briefly placed into lockdown Friday morning after police responded to a reported school shooter call that was later determined to be unfounded.
According to the Ellsworth Police Department, officers were dispatched around 8:36 a.m. Friday to Ellsworth Elementary School after a 911 call was transferred from an out-of-state dispatch center in Goodhue County, Minnesota. The caller claimed there was a school shooter and that students needed help.
Police later learned the same dispatch center received 12 separate 911 calls, each reporting different emergencies, including a school bus crash, an alleged sexual assault, and a dog being struck by a bus. Authorities said the calls appeared to originate from a 911-only phone with no active cellular carrier, and no callback number was available.
Once officers arrived, Ellsworth Elementary School was placed into a non-emergency lockdown, and law enforcement conducted a full walkthrough of the building alongside school staff. Due to their close proximity, Ellsworth Middle School and High School were also placed into precautionary lockdowns while similar safety checks were completed.
Police reported no threats were found at any of the schools. Officials noted that existing safety procedures worked as intended, allowing officers to clear each building efficiently and with minimal disruption to the school day.
Ellsworth police also coordinated with the out-of-state jurisdiction involved, which conducted similar checks at its own schools and likewise found no active threats.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department assisted during the response.
Authorities have not released information on whether the origin of the calls has been identified. No injuries were reported.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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