Lone Star College police completed its investigation of the 911 hoax call made Nov. 17 after determining the call was made by a minor.
“The culprit was an 11-year-old girl who was at the LSC-North Harris Library with her mother,” said Paul Willingham, LSC chief of police.
Willingham said the child was left alone for a brief period of time when she made the 911 call from a house phone in the LSC-North Harris Library, claiming there was an active shooter in the building.
“The 11-year-old confessed to our investigator,” Willingham said. “She said she made the call because she was ‘bored’”.
The police chief said that while LSC will not pursue criminal charges against the minor in this incident, potential charges could have included a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report and a felony offense of making a terroristic threat.
“Making this type of false report is serious. Although we were able to determine fairly quickly that there was not a shooter in that particular building, police officers from multiple agencies converged on the campus that night and countless hours were spent making sure the campus was safe,” Willingham said.
“I am grateful for the hard work of our officers to resolve this case and resolve it so quickly. We consider the matter closed and have advised our county law enforcement partners and the FBI,” said Willingham.
Dr. Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor, also praised the quick work of the LSC officers.
“The Lone Star College Police Department is second to none when it comes to protecting our students, employees and the community,” said Head. “I am personally appreciative of their efforts and dedication.”
Lone Star College is committed to providing a safe environment in which to learn, study and work, and encourages everyone: “If you see something, say something!”
LSC students and employees are also urged to check and update their contact information in myLoneStar to ensure they receive emergency emails and texts through the LoneStarCollegeAlert system.
Community members who might be visiting a LSC campus as well as Lone Star College tenants and partners who would like to receive emergency alerts from LSC are urged to sign up online at LSCAlert.LoneStar.edu.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 98,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
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