BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - A student who allegedly made an unlawful phone call Monday morning is facing charges, police say.
Cooper Smith, 17, is charged with filing a false police report in connection with an alleged gunman at Berkeley High School, according to Moncks Corner police chief Rick Ollic.
The school was placed on lockdown Monday morning for roughly 30 minutes. Ollic said they received a 911 call about someone on campus with a gun, but nothing was found.
The Berkeley County School District released the following statement after lockdown was over:
During a crisis, or when we must take precautionary measures related to a potential crisis, the most reliable information will always come from law enforcement and/or Berkeley County School District.
Information will be released in a way that does not hinder the investigation of law enforcement or put the safety of children at risk.
While we want all those connected to Berkeley County School District to find peace of mind during and after such situations, it is crucial that we do not let our communication interfere with those working to secure our campuses and protect our children.
We ask that you please help us by choosing not to share or repeat unfounded and unconfirmed rumors of matters involving school safety. We are committed to providing timely, accurate information to our parents and guardians first. If you are not receiving our calls or text messages, please contact your child’s school to ensure that we have your correct contact information in our system. Please also encourage those close to you to follow us, and their child’s school, on Facebook and Twitter so that they always have access to the most accurate information pertaining to student safety.