Maine State Police Believe Reported Threats at Local High Schools are Hoaxes

Maine State police say there was a heavy police presence at Sanford High School and Portland High School earlier this morning as multiple schools in Southern Maine responded to reports of active school shootings. 

Maine State Police confirmed multiple active shooter threats were made at schools throughout the state but according to Maine State Police spokespeople, those reports are believed to be a hoax.

The Sanford School Department sent a message to parents today saying the active shooter threat is not believed to be credible. The dispatch center received a phone call at 8:30 this morning about an active shooter situation at Sanford High School and the Sanford Regional Technical Center. Students were evacuated from the building and taken by bus to Memorial Gym to be reunited with their parents. 

Police also were at Portland High School this morning after a 911 call reported there was an active shooter. The director of the York County Emergency Management Agency has now confirmed there is no active shooter at Sanford High School. 

Other schools in Southern Maine out of an abundance of caution activated their emergency response plan and directed students and staff to shelter in place, but once again, there is confirmation that there is no active shooter in any of the schools.