Hawaii Police Department (HPD) officers responded to Hilo High School Wednesday morning, November 1, 2023, after school officials received a call regarding an online threat made by an unknown person claiming that an individual was bringing a gun to school on Wednesday. The threat ultimately proved to be false.

At 8:46 a.m. on Wednesday, Hilo patrol officers responded to the campus after school officials reported receiving a call from a juvenile on the mainland who stated they were playing an online game with an unidentified gamer who claimed they were bringing a gun to Hilo High School.

Arriving officers conducted a search of the school and found no unauthorized persons or weapons/devices on campus. School faculty also conducted checks of the school and determined no lock down was necessary as a result of this call.

Police initiated a terroristic threatening case on behalf of the school and ask that anyone with information regarding this threat to please call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.