JENNINGS COUNTY — Two threats, a bomb threat to Jennings County High School, and a photo of a gun sent to Jennings County Middle School, were determined to be hoaxes, and an investigation is continuing to determine who sent the messages.
At 12:20 p.m. Thursday, North Vernon police were notified of the bomb threat at the high school.
Police said that at 12:11 p.m., a high school student received an “air drop” on an iPhone in the cafeteria. The name of the iPhone used to send the air drop is reported to be “There’s a bomb at JCHS.” Upon opening the air drop, it was a photograph of a male and female sitting on a couch, police said.
At 12:20 p.m., the student reported the air drop to Jennings County High School staff, and
School Resource Officer Matt Staples of the North Vernon Police Department. At that time the schools were placed on a lockdown, and the cafeteria was immediately cleared by Staples and school staff. Students and staff were evacuated from the high school, and escorted to the Jennings County Middle School.
During this time, Homeland Security Officer Scott Crane was called to the high school
with his K9 specially trained to detect explosives. Soon after they arrived, along with Jennings County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Indiana State Police, investigators determined that there were no explosives, guns, or other weapons in the building.
During this time, other officers from the North Vernon Police Department, Jennings
County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Indiana Conservation Officers, and Indiana Excise Police arrived at the high school and middle school.
Shortly after, another air drop was sent out inside of the Jennings County Middle School
with a photograph of a gun. The Jennings County Middle School was also being searched at that time. Searches of the schools continued, and accountability of students and staff were taking place. No guns, explosives, or other weapons were located in the middle school. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the photo of the gun was taken on Jan. 1, 2023 at 1:23 a.m. at a different location, and not on school property, investigators said.
After further investigation, both locations were determined to be safe. High school
students were then released, and escorted back to the Jennings County High School, where
they reported to their respective classes for accountability. Students where then released to
their parents or respective buses for regular release.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
