On December 5th, at approximately 9:40 am, Sergeant Katie Cunningham, who supervises the School Resource Officers, received an urgent report regarding a possible suicidal individual inside Great Falls High School. This individual was reportedly armed with a firearm, prompting immediate action to protect the school community.
In response, GFHS was swiftly placed in lockdown, and law enforcement officers from multiple agencies including the Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Probation and Parole, and the U.S. Marshal Service rapidly mobilized to the scene to assess the situation.
While staff and students were safely secured in their classrooms, all other Great Falls Public Schools were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all students in the district.
A comprehensive search of Great Falls High School commenced promptly. Within 20 minutes of the initial report, Sergeant Cunningham announced that the school was clear of any threats, allowing students and staff to resume normal activities with peace of mind.
Lieutenant Matt Fleming confirmed that schools across Montana and several other states received similar threats around the same time. These incidents are believed to be “swatting” events where individuals make false reports to emergency services with the intent to provoke a large-scale police response to a particular location.
Both the Great Falls Police Department and Great Falls Public Schools regard threats to our schools with the utmost seriousness and always respond with appropriate measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
