HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—A “shots fired” report that resulted in a police response to the campus of Hollywood High School Sept. 13 was a “hoax,” authorities said.
Officers were sent to the campus on Highland Avenue north of Sunset Boulevard at about 9:45 a.m. on a report of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A preliminary investigation determined that no one had been injured, police said.
A short time later, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said on Twitter that the incident was being considered a “hoax.”
“Recent reports of a critical incident at Hollywood High School are unfounded and, after swift law enforcement response and internal individual classroom verification, we are deeming the incident as a hoax,” Carvalho said.
In a separate statement on Twitter, the school district said:
“There were unfounded reports of gunshots fired on campus at Hollywood High School today. All students and staff are safe and school will resume as normal.
“Non-credible school hoaxes are a serious offense that Los Angeles Unified takes seriously. Threats disrupt the educational environment, increase stress levels, and interfere with law enforcement’s ability to protect schools from real dangers. It also poses a serious risk to our community, draining resources and occupying the time of critical first responders.”
