The investigation is continuing into an apparent hoax call targeting 12 schools across Vermont on Tuesday with false reports of shootings, state police said.

The incident began at about 6:35 p.m. Monday April 7, when the Vermont State Police was notified that an anonymous user had utilized the Department of Defense Self Helpline chat function to make threats against several middle and high schools across Vermont. 

DoD Safe Helpline is the Department of Defense’s (DoD) sole hotline for members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline is a completely anonymous, confidential, 24/7, specialized service. Since 2011, Safe Helpline has provided support and resources to thousands of Service members, their families, and other members of the military community, the Helpline website states.

Characteristics of this threat were consistent with previous hoax threat and swatting campaigns targeting critical infrastructure. Threats to the named schools have all been unfounded.

Schools targeted by the calls were:

• Middlebury Union High School, Middlebury

• Mt. Abraham High School, Bristol

• Vergennes High School, Vergennes

• Arlington Memorial High School, Arlington

• Burr and Burton Academy, Manchester

• Long Trail School, Dorset

• Mt. Anthony Union High School, Bennington

• Burke Mountain Academy, East Burke

• Danville School, Danville

• Hazen Union High School, Hardwick

• Lyndon Institute, Lyndon

• St. Johnsbury Academy, St. Johnsbury

State Police are working with local and federal law-enforcement partners to further investigate the call. There was an increased law enforcement presence during the morning hours of the school day Tuesday, April 8, and there have been no reports of suspicious activity surrounding these threats.