Overview
- An anonymous male caller told Oak Forest police he was armed inside a bathroom at Oak Forest High School and had another gun and an explosive, prompting an immediate response by officers.
- Police treated the report as a potential active threat and used the department's Special Emergency Response Team, long-gun patrols and K-9 teams to lock down and systematically clear the building.
- Student video showed officers in tactical gear entering darkened classrooms where students had sheltered without phones, and parents reported seeing helicopters and a large police presence outside the school.
- After a methodical sweep that concluded around 1 p.m., authorities found no firearm, explosive device or injured people and said there was no evidence anyone had been in actual danger.
- Local police referred the investigation into the origin of the false call to the FBI, the inquiry remains ongoing, and nearby districts have taken heightened precautions following the incident.