UPDATED 5:55 P.M.
DUNLAP, Ill. – A call of suspicious people with guns caused some schools in Dunlap to go on a brief lockdown Wednesday afternoon.
Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins says the call came in just before 2:00 p.m., where an eyewitness claimed two male juveniles were seen carrying guns near Route 91 just south of the village.
Watkins says the juveniles — who lived nearby — had Airsoft guns, and were part of five juveniles found in a wooded area near Salem School Road.
No one was arrested, no charges are being filed, and the lockdown on three Dunlap schools was quickly lifted.
As that word got out, Illinois State Police said officials in Peoria and eighteen other counties fielded calls of phony active shooter situations Wednesday, referred to as “swatting” — what they call dangerous and illegal fake calls about potential active shooter situations.
25 News says one such call targeted Peoria Public Schools, leading to an increased police presence.
