BCA tracks 9 school ‘swatting’ calls, including to Crookston, Bemidji

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it is tracking at least nine hoax calls to 9-1-1 over the past two days (Mon-Tue) making active shooter threats against state schools… including schools in Crookston and Bemidji.

Authorities say all of the so-called “swatting” calls appear to have come from the same individual.

B-C-A Superintendent Drew Evans says other calls have occurred in Duluth, Ely, Eveleth, Brainerd, Austin, Alexandria and Albert Lea.

Evans says threats have been similar to those made in earlier calls — the person claims they’re outside of a school… threatens to engage in an active shooter situation… and gunshots are heard at the end of the call.

Minnesota saw 27 hoax school shooting calls in 2022, including 17 in September. To date, none were found to be legitimate.

Evans says, with assistance of federal agencies, the BCA is working to determine where the calls originated.