Lindale ISD schools were on lockdown for approximately an hour after a
threat against the district’s administration building was phoned into the
Lindale Police Department shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, said LISD
Communications Director Courtney Sanguinetti.
Numerous law enforcement agencies arrived at the administration building
and E.J. Moss Intermediate School – East and West campuses – at
approximately 8:17 a.m. after the threat was received, Sanguinetti said.
Those responding included units from the Lindale ISD Police, Lindale Police
Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, Smith
County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, Smith County Precinct 5 Constable’s
Office, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office, Tyler
Police Department, the Lindale Fire Department and the FBI.
Lindale ISD already has a LISD Police Officer stationed at every campus as
normal procedure. After preliminary and secondary sweeps of the E.J. Moss
East and West campuses, authorities gave the all clear.
“We received an anonymous call,” Lindale Police Chief Dan Somes said. “The
caller was advising that he was armed and he had explosive devices. We had
units very close, so the response was quick.”
All campuses are now open and determined to be safe. There will be extra
counseling and resources available to students who may need them. There
will also be extra police presence on all campuses as a precaution.
“We appreciate all of our parents, our staff,” said Lindale ISD Police Chief Joey
King. “We’ve had a big response, we appreciate all of them. We just ask you to
be patient. We just ask, mainly, that parents be patient just for today and
tomorrow as we get through this, but again we appreciate all of their support.”
The investigation is still ongoing and district officials said more information
will be released when available.
District officials also said all threats are taken seriously and investigated
thoroughly and as always the LISD will work with officials to conduct a full
investigation.