Publication select ▼
WARREN — The Warren Mott High School homecoming dance ended about an hour early Sept. 21 when Warren police evacuated the school just before 9 p.m. after receiving numerous 911 calls about students who reportedly heard gunshots fired during the event.
However, further investigation determined it wasn’t the sound of gunfire but rather balloons popping that caused many students to panic. The balloons were displayed as decorations for the dance.
Police performed an evacuation to release students to their parents.
Warren police received a number of 911 calls that gunshots were heard during the dance and many units responded to the scene. Some students reportedly were crying as parents picked them up from the dance. At one point, parents who were coming to the school were asked to go to Beer Middle School on Martin Road, a half mile away from Mott, as police conducted an investigation.
At 10:16 p.m., Warren Consolidated Schools Superintendent John Bernia issued a message to parents confirming gunshots were not fired and there was no threat to the students and staff attending the dance.
“The Warren Police Department have reported to us that students began calling 911 when they heard balloons popping during the dance. While there were 911 calls made, there was no evidence at any time of an active threat,” Bernia said. “There have been reports this evening of shots fired, and injuries, including a police officer. There is no evidence any of these statements are true.”
The Warren Mott High School Crisis Team is prepared to support students when they return to school on Monday, Bernia’s letter states. The superintendent thanked the Warren Police Department “for their aggressive response to 911 calls from our school, for taking command of the situation, and for taking extra steps to ensure they were clear on what had happened, and that our students would be safe.”
This is the second incident to cause panic at the school this month. On Sept. 9, Mott activated its ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) lockdown protocol, which turned out to be a false alarm.
School canceled Monday
Classes at Warren Mott were canceled on Sept. 23. On Sunday, a number of Warren Mott community members began a “change.org petition” asking for school to be closed Monday as a result of the homecoming dance. Change.org is a website that allows users to create and sign petitions for a specific cause to influence decision-making.
In response to the petition, someone posted a threat to the school. In a letter to district families Sept. 22, Bernia confirmed school officials were in contact with OK2SAY and the Warren Police Department investigated the threat. The nature of the threat was not disclosed.
“While we have no reason to believe this to be a credible threat, in light of the emotional toll recent events have taken on students and staff, Warren Mott High School will be closed on Monday, September 23. There will be no practices, games, or evening events,” Bernia said in the letter. “My hope is that everyone has some time to process recent events, to seek help if you need it, and to refocus on everything that makes Warren Mott an outstanding school. This time will also allow the Warren Police Department to continue their investigation.”
In his letter, Bernia also had a message for the Warren Mott students.
“Your physical safety is a top priority for me. Your mental health is just as important. Please take some time on Monday to rest, reflect, to talk with your loved ones about how you’re feeling, and to be a friend to your peers,” he said. “When you return to school on Tuesday, we will have adults you can talk with and resources to help you.”
OK2SAY is the student safety program that allows people to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools. Tips can be reported via telephone at 8-555-OK2SAY, via text at 652729 (OK- 2SAY) or via email at OK2SAY@mi.gov.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
You May Also Be Interested In
