Lewiston Police Clear Church After Anonymous Shooter Threat Prompts School Lockdown
Lewiston police responded in force Wednesday morning to First Church of the Nazarene after an anonymous caller reported a possible shooter heading to Cornerstone Christian School, which operates inside the church facility at 1700 Eighth St. Authorities quickly determined the threat was unfounded.
Capt. Jeff Klone, speaking from the scene, confirmed officers found no evidence of any threat after conducting a thorough response. “No sign of any kind of shooter,” Klone said. “We don’t know if this is a hoax or a swatting, but at this time everything is safe.”
School Lockdowns Lifted, Students Released to Parents
Cornerstone Christian School activated its lockdown procedures immediately upon receiving the anonymous call and contacted police, who arrived with officers in tactical gear carrying long guns. Despite the heavy response, the scene remained calm throughout the incident.
Students at Cornerstone Christian were released to their parents following the all-clear. The threat also prompted precautionary measures at several nearby Lewiston School District campuses — Webster Elementary, McSorely Elementary, and Normal Hill Campus were placed in a secured status at approximately 11:35 a.m. By 11:50 a.m., School Resource Officers working alongside Lewiston Police Department supervisors had lifted the secure status at those schools. District officials notified parents that all campuses had returned to normal operations.
FBI Joins Investigation to Identify Caller
Lewiston detectives are now working with the FBI to identify the individual responsible for the call. Klone noted that while no shots were fired and no one arrived at the school, the department treated the threat as credible from the outset. “Because of that threat, we responded in force like we did,” he said.
Whether the call constitutes a hoax or a deliberate swatting incident — in which false emergency reports are used to trigger a large law enforcement response — remains under investigation. Swatting incidents carry serious legal consequences and can divert critical public safety resources from genuine emergencies.
The incident drew a significant police presence to the east Lewiston neighborhood on a Wednesday school day, alarming families and prompting rapid coordination between the private school, the Lewiston School District, and multiple law enforcement agencies.
Lewiston police have handled several notable public safety matters in recent weeks. Idaho State Police are also seeking public assistance in connection with a separate crash investigation in Lewiston, and the department continues to address drug-related enforcement activity throughout Nez Perce County.
What Comes Next
The joint investigation by Lewiston detectives and the FBI is ongoing. Authorities have not announced any arrests or identified a suspect in connection with the anonymous threat. Anyone with information about the call is encouraged to contact the Lewiston Police Department. Officials have not yet indicated a timeline for the investigation’s conclusion, though federal involvement signals the case is being treated seriously. Fabricating emergency threats to schools is a criminal offense under both Idaho and federal law. Prior Lewiston-area cases have shown that law enforcement and prosecutors are willing to pursue serious charges in criminal matters affecting the community.