HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A prank inspired by a viral TikTok trend allegedly prompted a Hempstead middle school to go into lockdown on Monday afternoon, Nassau County Police said.
Authorities responded to Lawrence Road Middle School after a 911 call at around 1:30 p.m. claimed there was a threat to students and faculty members.
The Nassau County Police Department, along with Hempstead Police, conducted a thorough and systematic search of the entire school, as the school was placed in lockdown.
Officials said there was no evidence of any credible threats found and the building was deemed safe. The students were dismissed safely, and there were no reported injuries.
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the incident appears to be inspired by a TikTok trend that has plagued schools across the Tri-state area and even the rest of the country.
"We believe this is a TikTok-like event that's going national," he said. "Currently in Georgia, there's a similar event right now."
Last month, school officials and authorities in New York City and in the Tri-state area said they were monitoring such viral threats made, though they continued to assure parents that these posts were not considered credible.
At that time, Ryder said there had been a 148% increase in school threats since the beginning of the school year compared to the same point in 2020.
NBC 4 reports that Monday afternoon's incident began after someone called the school claiming to be held hostage by a gunman, and one of the teachers was described during the incident.
Nassau County Police said Tuesday that they will continue to investigate the incident, urging anyone with information regarding this incident should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
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