A teenager was arrested after a false shooting call led to the lockdown at Fowler High School, according to police YourCentralValley.com

FOWLER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A 17-year-old was arrested after he allegedly made a fake call threatening a shooting at Fowler High School on Thursday, the Fowler Police Department said.

Officials say the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 8:30 a.m. regarding a possible shooting at Fowler High School, located at 701 E. Main Street in Fowler.

Officers report that the caller appeared to be playing something on his phone to change his voice.

The Fowler Police Department says the call resulted in a lockdown at the school. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the location where they believed the shooting would occur. They cleared Fowler High School looking for the suspect or any evidence related to the shooting, but it was determined that some information from the call was incorrect.

Officials said the suspect was on foot and all schools in the area were placed on lockdown. Ultimately, they say they found no evidence to corroborate the information from the 911 call.

Officers say they were able to arrest a 17-year-old from Fowler in connection with this investigation. He was booked into the Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of making a spoofed call (also known as a “swatting” call) and making criminal threats.

In a statement, the Fowler Police Department says these hoaxes pose a real threat to law enforcement
Community.

Swatting is illegal, and advanced technology allows law enforcement to fully investigate these crimes to prosecute those who make false 911 calls.

Police Chief Michael Reid

The name of the teenager responsible for the call has not been publicly released by law enforcement.