False Threats Prompt Brief Lockdowns at Arizona and Nevada Schools

Schools in Arizona and Nevada briefly tightened security on Monday after a series of unverified threats forced evacuations and lockdowns but ultimately proved unfounded, according to local police departments. In Tucson, a caller to a mental-health crisis line claimed a bomb had been planted at Magee Middle School. Tucson Police Department officers evacuated parts of the campus, searched the grounds and found no explosive device. Classes resumed after about an hour, and the investigation remains open, the department said. Farther south, several campuses in the Douglas Unified School District were placed in “secure” status while officers investigated an unspecified nearby incident. District officials later said there was no danger to students or staff and normal operations were restored. In Las Vegas, Durango High School went into lockdown after rumors of a threat circulated online. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Clark County School District Police conducted a sweep, found no credible evidence and lifted the lockdown. The school’s principal said instruction continued without further interruption, though some parents criticized the timeliness of notifications. Law-enforcement agencies in all three jurisdictions said they will maintain an increased presence as investigations continue and urged students and parents to report any suspicious activity immediately.