SHELBY COUNTY, Ky. — Schools across Shelby County are on high alert Wednesday after a threat was made earlier in the morning.
Superintendent Josh Matthews said district officials became aware that a threat with a weapon had been made around Rocket Lane around 9:30 a.m.
Shelby County High School, Shelby County Area Technology Center, Wright Elementary and East Middle Schools are all located on Rocket Lane. Matthews said the schools were put on lockdown while police investigated the threat.
All schools across the county were put on a soft lockdown out of an abundance of caution as well, he added.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, it's believed the report was a swatting attempt.
Police said law enforcement was contacted by the suicide hotline regarding a man claiming they were at Shelby County High School and had planted explosives and were armed with a shotgun. They said the suspect was in a vehicle.
The sheriff's office responded within minutes and cleared the parking lot and interior but found nothing.
There is no threat to the public. And while the district's schools are no longer on lockdown, schools will remain on high alert for the remainder of the day.
"Operations continue as normally under High Alert, with an increased presence of caution," Matthews said. "Students and staff are allowed in and out of the building."
Some students from Spencer County were at the Shelby County ATC when the lockdown occurred. Spencer County Schools said those students are safe and have been loaded on a bus and are returning to Spencer County High School at this time.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is working with the state Attorney General's office to identify the source of the threat.
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