Bomb Threat Prompts School Cancellation

UPDATE: Several schools in Washoe and Carson City, Douglas and Lyon Counties were subject to bomb threats. Each one was declared a hoax and are being investigated as a case of ‘swatting.’

A bomb threat that prompted a delay and eventual cancellation of classes at Virginia City High School on Wednesday morning was a hoax.

The Storey County Sheriff’s Office says the threat was made just after 6 a.m. via an email sent to school officials, specifically targeting Virginia City High School. No students were on campus at the time the threat was received.

Authorities evacuated all school personnel, and bomb-detecting K9 units from neighboring agencies were deployed to conduct a thorough sweep of the campus. Officials found no explosives.

Initially, the Storey County School District announced a two-hour delay for all schools in the district while law enforcement investigated the situation.

At 8:45 a.m., officials cancelled high school classes.