Boerne High School targeted by ‘swatting’

Six area districts hit by fake bomb threat

A bomb threat that led to the temporary evacuation of Boerne High School early Thursday appears to be a “swatting” incident, officials said.

The false claim targeted a half-dozen area school districts, according to a Boerne Independent School District spokeswoman.

“There were, I think, six districts in our direct area that encountered the same issue,” Maggie Dominguez said.

Swatting is a trending illegal prank call made either to emergency services, an institution or a targeted individual, often a politician. The caller will make lethal threats, prompting a response from local law enforcement agencies.

The name is derived from the fact a Special Weapons and Tactics team, or SWAT, is often dispatched.

According to Dominguez, Boerne High officials listened to an automated “robocall” voicemail about 8 a.m. Thursday, when only a few students were on campus.

Boerne police rushed to the school to evacuate the occupants.

“(The voicemail) was checked very early in the morning and immediately delivered to our school resource officer,” Dominguez said.

Staff at other schools that were targeted, including Comfort High School, heard the voicemail later in afternoon, investigators said.

Boerne High was one of the only campuses to evacuate before regularly scheduled classes.

Officers posted an “all-clear” about 8:50 a.m.

“The campus had not officially been opened, and only staff members and a small number of students were on-site,” a Boerne Police Department Facebook post read.

Dominguez said while the situation was stressful, police and school staff operated efficiently to ensure safety of students.

“We are super blessed we didn’t have to cancel school,” Dominguez said, adding that a campus in Schertz – later identified as Steele High School – was shut down for a day due to the same threat.

No other details on the swatting investigation — which involves multiple agencies — were available at press time.

“We are super blessed we didn’t have to cancel school.”

— Maggie Dominguez, Boerne ISD spokeswoman