(FOND DU LAC) A call about a man with a gun near Winnebago Lutheran Academy Tuesday is now considered a swatting case.
On Tuesday at about 3:11 p.m., the City of Fond du Lac Police Department responded to the area of Maple Avenue following a 911 call reporting a male with a gun walking on the sidewalk and placing a firearm into a snowbank. Maple Avenue is directly adjacent to Winnebago Lutheran Academy.
Due to the proximity to the school and the time of day, when students were being dismissed, Winnebago Lutheran Academy was immediately notified and placed into lockdown. A significant police response was initiated to secure the area and protect students, staff, and the surrounding community.
FDLPD Officers quickly located and secured the individual identified in the call and stabilized the situation. Officers determined there was no firearm involved. The individual never possessed a gun.
Further investigation determined the 911 caller was the individual’s sister, who intentionally made a false report in an attempt to get her brother in trouble. The phone number used to place the call was confirmed to belong to the sister, who is currently located in Texas. Based on the totality of the circumstances, the incident is being investigated as a swatting case.
Chief Aaron Goldstein said swatting and false reports involving weapons are serious crimes, especially when they occur near schools. These reports trigger immediate, high-risk police responses and create significant risk to the public, students, and first responders.
Goldstein said police will pursue criminal charges against the caller.
