Fall River elementary school put on lockdown after threat

A Fall River elementary school was put on lockdown Wednesday.

According to Fonseca Principal Alicia Lisi, this afternoon at approximately 3:10 p.m., close to dismissal time, the school received a phone call from an unknown person claiming someone was coming to the school to do harm.

Lisi stated that she immediately notified the FRPD and the FRPS of the call and put the school on lock down, to prevent any entry or exit of the building until the FRPD and FRPS could determine whether the call was deemed credible.

“Our immediate priority was to determine the credibility of the call and ensure the safety of our students and staff during dismissal.”

The Fall River Police Department determined that the call was not deemed credible, but out of an abundance of caution, the school proceeded with a staggered dismissal.

Lisi said that immediately after dismissal, her priority was to notify staff and families of the situation.

According to Fall River Police Captain Barden Castro, an additional police presence was added at the building when the school day ended to ensure the safety of the students, faculty, staff, and caregivers picking up children.

An investigation is ongoing and Castro stated it is important to note that several other communities received similar threatening calls today.