BCA investigating hoax ‘swatting’ calls to schools across Minnesota

March 2, 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says they’re tracking at least nine hoax calls to 911 Monday and Tuesday making active shooter threats against schools across Minnesota.

BCA Superintendent Drew Evans says, “so far we’ve been alerted that they’ve occurred in Duluth, Ely, Eveleth, Brainerd, Bemidji, Austin, Alexandria, Crookston and Albert Lea — and certainly we’re tracking if additional have come in, but those are the ones we’re aware of at this time.”

Evans says threats have been similar to those in earlier calls: the caller claims they’re outside of a school, threatens to engage in an active shooter situation, and gunshots are then heard at the end of the call. Evans says it’s an “extremely serious crime,” and with assistance of federal agencies they’re working to determine where the calls came from.