Man-with-a-gun call traced to 8-year-old student; it was a hoax

Authorities say a recent man-with-a-gun call that resulted in a hard lockdown at Loogootee Elementary and Loogootee Junior-Senior High School was a hoax perpetrated by an 8-year-old male student at the elementary school.

Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Loogootee Police Chief and an Indiana Conservation Officer responded to Loogootee Elementary School for a report of a man with a gun around lunchtime Monday.

Both Loogootee Elementary School and Loogootee Jr./Sr. High Schools were placed on a hard lockdown at 12:20 p.m. due to the sheriff’s office receiving a 9-1-1 call from a student saying there was a man with a gun threatening to kill them in the elementary school.

During the investigation, Martin County authorities were able to determine the call was made by the male student through surveillance video footage.

The incident will be forwarded to the Martin County Circuit Court probation department