Franklin middle school threat 'hoax:' Students evacuated after calls

FRANKLIN, Wis. - Forest Park Middle School in Franklin was placed on a lockdown and later evacuated Monday morning, Oct. 24 following phone calls about a potential threat. But officials now say the person made those calls has admitted the threat was a hoax.

Staff from the Forest Park Middle school reported receiving a phone call Monday morning from a subject who was claiming to be armed with firearms and inside Forest Park Middle School.

Forest Park Middle School in Franklin 

Officers from the Franklin Police Department, with assistance from several additional law enforcement agencies, evacuated students safely from the school.  Students were escorted from Forest Park Middle School to nearby Ben Franklin Elementary – as well as the Milwaukee County Sports Complex.

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"My heart started to get squeezed and the nerves started going up," said Kati Damato, parent of a 6th grader.

Forest Park Middle School in Franklin 

Forest Park Middle School was cleared by officers and no offenders were located.  

The caller who reported to be inside the building, admitted in the last call to police that the incident was in fact a hoax.

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This incident happened just days after nine school districts in southeast Wisconsin received threats of an active shooting. Each of those was a hoax.

"It’s sad that this feels normal," Damato said. "The statement 'no news is good news' – no that doesn’t feel good as a parent."

Lined of parents picking up students from Milwaukee County Sports Complex

Later, parents lined up outside the Milwaukee County Sports Complex – to pick up their students. 

Franklin police are actively investigating this incident. They thank students and staff for the way they responded during what the school district is calling a "safety situation."