Fall River Schools Briefly Ordered to ‘Shelter in Place’ After ‘False’ Threat Received

FALL RIVER — Fall River Public Schools were briefly under a “shelter in place” order Tuesday morning after a threat later deemed to be “false” was made against Bishop Connolly High School.

Fall River Police said in a release that the department received a telephone call this morning from an unknown individual who “communicated a threat directed at Bishop Connolly High School.”

Police reported to the school to investigate the threat, and a “shelter in place” was put into effect for all Fall River schools.

“Our officers conducted a search of the property to ensure there was no threat to the building or its occupants,” police said. “We have confirmed that there is no threat to the school.”

The schools then returned to normal activities.

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Police said the investigation is ongoing and that “false threats such as these will not be tolerated.” The department pointed out that “according to the Massachusetts Fusion Center, several departments throughout the Commonwealth have received similar calls recently.”

On Monday, North Attleboro High School was among several in Massachusetts threatened in multiple "swatting" incidents on Monday.

Fall River Police will also “maintain increased visibility in the area" of all city schools for the rest of the day.

The false threat also comes the morning after a deadly mass shooting at Michigan State University, in which three people were killed and five injured before the gunman took his own life.