Fourteen Colorado high schools went into lockdown Wednesday morning after receiving phoned-in bomb threats, forcing evacuations and sweeping police searches across the state. State officials and local law enforcement quickly determined none of the threats were credible, allowing students and staff to return to buildings within hours.
The threats, described by authorities as nearly identical automated messages, mark the latest in a growing wave of hoax calls targeting schools nationwide this month.
Schools That Received Threats
The Colorado Information Analysis Center confirmed these 14 schools were targeted January 14:
- Abraham Lincoln High School (Denver)
- Academy of Urban Learning (Denver)
- Alamosa High School
- Arapahoe High School (Centennial)
- Aspen High School
- Brighton High School
- Buena Vista High School
- Delta High School
- Douglas County High School (Castle Rock)
- Durango High School
- Montbello Career and Technical High School (Denver)
- Mountain Range High School (Westminster)
- Colorado High School (Colorado Springs)
- Liberty Common High School (Fort Collins)
Note: Earlier reports incorrectly listed Frisco Independent School District, which is in Texas.
How Schools and Police Responded
Delta High School received its threat through an answering machine message. Administrators immediately evacuated students to nearby safe locations while Delta Police and sheriff deputies searched the building with dogs.
Superintendent Caryn Gibson praised the rapid response. “Law enforcement responded promptly and we worked closely with them and school administrators to ensure the safety of all students and staff,” she said. Students returned to class once the building was cleared.
Similar protocols played out across the state. Most schools lifted lockdowns by early afternoon.
Part of a Larger National Pattern
Colorado’s threats match dozens of nearly identical bomb hoaxes reported in at least eight other states since January 6, including Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.
Law enforcement sources tell multiple news outlets the calls appear to come from outside the United States and use voice-altering technology. The FBI has opened an investigation into the coordinated campaign.
Recent similar incidents (January 2025):
| Date | State(s) | Number of Schools Targeted | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6 | Ohio | 27 | All hoaxes |
| Jan 8 | Michigan, Pennsylvania | 19 | No credible threats |
| Jan 9 | South Dakota | 12 | Lockdowns lifted quickly |
| Jan 14 | Colorado | 14 | All cleared same day |
Schools nationwide now treat every bomb threat as real until proven otherwise, even when patterns suggest hoaxes. The protocol causes real disruption but remains the safest course after past school shootings.
Parents received alerts throughout the morning, and many rushed to campuses. Students described fear turning to frustration once they learned the threats were not real.
Colorado education officials say they are working with federal partners to trace the calls and prevent future incidents. Some districts plan to review communication systems that may be vulnerable to automated threats left on voicemail.
The incidents come at a time when schools already operate under heightened security measures following recent tragedies elsewhere in the country.
What do you think about these repeated hoax threats? Are schools handling them the right way? Share your thoughts below and let others know about this developing story.
