Yesterday morning, Hawaiʻi County Police (HPD) officers responded to Kea‘au High School after receiving a call about an active shooter incident that ultimately proved to be false.
 
Central Dispatch received a call saying a Caucasian male with a firearm was on at the school and had shot multiple students in a classroom and was roaming the campus.
 
As officers were responding to the scene, Kea‘au High School administration was contacted and reported that there was no active shooter that they were aware of.  It was determined that the call was a hoax.  Once a systematic search of the school campus was completed and assurances that there were no threats, the school and surrounding areas were opened up around 10:57 a.m.  
 
Kea‘au High School and other schools in the immediate vicinity were placed on lockdown as a precaution due to the potential seriousness of the call.
 
The incident has been classified as a first-degree terroristic threatening case and is currently being investigated by the Area I Juvenile Aid Section.