Local
Blackman Schools Locked Down After Threatening Call; District Calls It Likely 'Swatting'
Blackman Elementary, Middle and High Schools were placed under a precautionary lockdown Tuesday morning after the high school received a threatening phone call, Rutherford County Schools said. Officials believe the call was likely a fake 'swatting' threat, but law enforcement is still investigating and parents were directed to a church reunification site.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. â Three neighboring schools on Blaze Drive were placed under lockdown Tuesday morning after Blackman High School received a threatening phone call, according to Rutherford County Schools.
The district said Blackman Elementary, Middle and High Schools were all put on a precautionary lockdown while law enforcement investigated the call. The three campuses sit next to one another in Murfreesboro.
"As a precaution, we have placed the high school, the middle school and the elementary school on a precautionary lockdown while law enforcement investigates," a district spokesperson said. "The scene is secure and students are safe."
The district told parents the move follows standard security procedure. In a message to families, officials said the initial assessment is that the call may have been a "swatting" incident â a false report made to trigger a heavy police response â but stressed that such threats are always treated seriously until investigators have all the facts.
"Initially, this appears to be what is known as a swatting call â which is a fake threat â but we always take them seriously until we have all the facts," the spokesperson said.
Parents were not permitted to check students out or enter the campuses during the lockdown because law enforcement had secured the grounds. District officials urged families to stay away from the schools to avoid unnecessary congestion.
"We will keep you updated as we have more information, but please know that students are safe and the scene is secure," the message to parents read. "Please do not attempt to come to campus as this will cause unneeded congestion."
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office also asked parents to avoid the campuses and instead gather at a reunification area at 316 Fortress Boulevard, the Murfreesboro Missionary Baptist Church. The church is located down the road from the elementary school and around the corner from the middle and high schools.
"Law enforcement is actively investigating. Please avoid the area at this time," the sheriff's office said.
The incident comes as schools across the region and country continue to grapple with false threats that can disrupt instruction and strain emergency resources. District officials did not say how long the lockdown would remain in place, but said updates would be shared as the investigation develops.