Madison County schools briefly locked down after swatting call

BEREA, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Three Madison County schools were placed on lockdown Thursday morning after a threatening call was made to Madison Southern High School, according to a release from the district.

Officials said the call came in around 11:40 a.m. Building administrators immediately contacted the School Resource Officer, who launched an investigation. Additional law enforcement responded and began sweeping the campus.

Madison Southern High School and Foley Middle School went into full lockdown, while nearby Shannon Johnson Elementary was placed on soft lockdown as a precaution because it shares the campus.

Police later determined the call was a “swatting” incident — a prank call intended to trigger a large police response. Authorities confirmed the threat was unsubstantiated, and students and staff were never in danger.

The lockdown was lifted around 12:30 p.m. after officers completed a sweep of the buildings.

“We are extremely grateful to Berea Police Department and all first responders who helped ensure our campus, our students, and our staff were safe,” the district said in the release, also thanking families and the community for their patience during the response.